Group B strep?

Nikkit78

I haven't tested yet and for the last baby I was negative, but you never know... So, what are people doing when they test positive when they are having home births.  MW uses a vaginal wash during labor and I am curious if there are any other methods out there that are being used at home. 

~adamwife~

My MWs don't even test for it.  The more I read about it, the more I have decided it's sort of a silly test.  Most docs do the test at 35-36 weeks, which is sometimes over a month before you deliver.  Group B can enter the vagina at any time since it is present in the anus - so even if you test negative at 35 weeks, you could have it at 40 weeks and vice versa.

~adamwife~

I forgot to say that I have heard that garlic can be a good home remedy.  I know it sounds gross, but you just insert a clove vaginally and it is supposed to kill the bacteria.

barnwife

I am positive for group B strep. My CNM can give antibiotics during labor. However, we are declining them, unless there are complications (I have a fever or prolonged rupture of membranes). The risk is really quite small.

I have an article from my midwife somewhere about GBS with a section on home remedies. I'll try to find it and list some (garlic is a part of many).

Oh, and fwiw, I tested postive at 36 weeks. I tried a vaginal wash and started probiotics as suggested by my midwife. I retested at 38 weeks....still positive. Oh well.

MrsTiara

Sex: semen can help get rid of it (and then ask for a retest).  I just got my neg. results back (yay!), but my midwives would have done a butterfly needle and administered the antibiotics and then taken the needle out.  No IV, no heplock.

ErinMSB

My MW tests at 36 weeks.  I was positive in the hospital with DD and I really want to be negative this time just so I have one less thing to worry about. Here's my plan:  up my probiotics to 2 pills 3 x a day, increase Vit C and Vit D (at my MW's suggestion. I can't remember the reason, but I've got it written down somewhere.), have sex as often as we can, and use garlic (I've heard that if thread it and leave the thread outside your body, it's easier to remove. And also that if you poke it with a needle a few times, it'll help release the juices.)

nosoup4u

I'm not having a home birth, but this is a good post - there's a few midwife regimens for GBS positive moms in it:

https://empoweredbirth.typepad.com/empowering_birth_blog/2010/07/part-2-so-youve-decided-to-test-for-gbs-you-still-have-options.html

bandwife

I had a home birth, was strep B positive and my water broke before labor started. I went to the hospital, got a hep lock and one bag of antibiotics and then the MWs came to my home every 8 hours to give me antibiotics.

roundtheworldgirl

I was positive last time and I had a homebirth.  I was concerned about the increased likelihood of developing a yeast infection (and the impact on BFing) from the abx, so I declined them.  There are a couple risk factors that increase your chances of a GBS infection after labor.  One is prolonged labor following rupture of amniotic sack and one is if you run a fever during labor.  I forget the third.  Anyway, I had my mw bring the abx, but said I didn't want them administered unless I exhibited any of the risk factors.  I didn't, so I didn't get the abx.  No problem.

kesrya

This is great!  I'm not sure my MW will even test for it, but if she does, I would decline the antibiotics as I immediately get yeast infections from them.  I am also highly allergic to garlic, so that's a no go.  I saw on the link that was posted that echinacea is used, which has great antibacterial properties.  I am wondering if that late in the pregnancy you can add goldenseal back in -- which also has antibacterial and antiviral properties.  I about 99% certain that the only reason goldenseal is a no-no during pregnancy is that it is a uterine stimulant.  So by the time you are full term, it's okay to add in something that may start contractions.  Does anyone know if there are any other reasons not to use goldenseal?