I'm negative! Reversed my GBS!

SqueezeTheClay

I'm excited about this, I thought someone here could appreciate the info, that yes, it is possible!  I was GBS+ at 37 weeks and my midwife said she would let me retest (she said I was the first person who ever tried to reverse it in her practice, in all the times she's offered).  I got the results back today that I'm negative!  Retook the test at 39w4d.

Of all the things that I'd read you could do, what I ended up doing consistently before retesting was inserting a crushed clove of garlic at night (easiest way is wrapping it in rolled gauze and tying a knot, leaving long enough ends for me to grab when done with it, I crushed it after I wrapped and tied it also).  Then during the day, I would insert an L. acidophilus capsule.  I also took a garlic supplement geared toward immune support in higher doses than the bottle recommended, and also drank a lot of kombucha and kefir.  The last thing was that I showered every day and washed front and back with hibiclens (just the outside, never felt comfortable letting that get too far "in",

I'm so stoked, I'm allergic to penicillin and even when they try and find me other antibiotics I always end up feeling worse than what made me sick in the first place.  I did not want to have them in labor and feel like crap during my first homebirth.

 I'm off to finish my happy dance.  Now all I need is for this baby to actually come out

Sawyerplus1

That's awesome! Your determination totally paid off  

frostnoel

That's great!  I had GBS in my urine during my early pregnancy labs, and my MW agreed to test me this past Wed.  I'm hoping I get the same results as you!

ncjulia12

That's so great!  I tested positive early in my pregnancy and I'm trying to decide if it's worth it to try to reverse my result for my 37 week test.  I'll be at a hospital and have to have a hep-lock either way, so I'm not sure if it's worth the trouble in my case or not.  

Sawyerplus1

merks23:

That's great news for you. I don't want to rain on your parade, but consider this...

I tested GBS+ in week 36 and then negative in week 38. (I just happened to have it done twice because I was between providers.) My provider is still going to treat me with antibiotics during labor, however, and I am allergic to both penicillins and sulfa drugs. My provider said that it is not bizarre that the outcome reversed (and without my own intervening) since the bacteria naturally dies and then re-colonizes (it's part of our bodies' natural cycle for those of us who are carriers). My provider also said that the risk to the baby of not treating far outweighs the inconvenience of the treatment, especially because you could retest positive the day you are in labor. I don't want an IV either, but I do want to do what is best for the baby. Also, my provider did say that if a GBS+ mother does not get to receive antibiotics within the specified time frame, that it would mean that the baby would need to be tested for the bacteria shortly after birth (a quick prick, I think). This has been my experience, take it or leave it. I would choose a home birth as well, but I'm much too high risk for that. It will (hopefully!) be my second unmedicated birth however. Good luck!  

I'm confused by this. If they only test once, at 37 weeks, during pregnancy, but the bacteria naturally comes and goes, how do they know who's a carrier? I've never tested positive, but does that mean I'm not a carrier, or does it mean they just caught me during a time when there was no bacteria?

If it's possible that you tested both negative and positive within a 2 week period, then how do they know more women/carriers that test negative at 37 weeks aren't positive by the time they deliver? Do my questions make sense?  I mean, you tested negative when most women normally have the test for the first and only time and you're still being treated for it....? It seems to me that if it was such a risk to mother and baby, and such a possibility for conflicting results within such a short time, that treating everyone for GBS 'just in case' would be a lot more common. 

Any insight? 

tessatewks

Sawyerplus1:

merks23:

That's great news for you. I don't want to rain on your parade, but consider this...

I tested GBS+ in week 36 and then negative in week 38. (I just happened to have it done twice because I was between providers.) My provider is still going to treat me with antibiotics during labor, however, and I am allergic to both penicillins and sulfa drugs. My provider said that it is not bizarre that the outcome reversed (and without my own intervening) since the bacteria naturally dies and then re-colonizes (it's part of our bodies' natural cycle for those of us who are carriers). My provider also said that the risk to the baby of not treating far outweighs the inconvenience of the treatment, especially because you could retest positive the day you are in labor. I don't want an IV either, but I do want to do what is best for the baby. Also, my provider did say that if a GBS+ mother does not get to receive antibiotics within the specified time frame, that it would mean that the baby would need to be tested for the bacteria shortly after birth (a quick prick, I think). This has been my experience, take it or leave it. I would choose a home birth as well, but I'm much too high risk for that. It will (hopefully!) be my second unmedicated birth however. Good luck!  

I'm confused by this. If they only test once, at 37 weeks, during pregnancy, but the bacteria naturally comes and goes, how do they know who's a carrier? I've never tested positive, but does that mean I'm not a carrier, or does it mean they just caught me during a time when there was no bacteria?

If it's possible that you tested both negative and positive within a 2 week period, then how do they know more women/carriers that test negative at 37 weeks aren't positive by the time they deliver? Do my questions make sense?  I mean, you tested negative when most women normally have the test for the first and only time and you're still being treated for it....? It seems to me that if it was such a risk to mother and baby, and such a possibility for conflicting results within such a short time, that treating everyone for GBS 'just in case' would be a lot more common. 

Any insight? 

That's precisely teh problem with this test! You could be positive at 37 weeks but ACTUALLY be negative come delivery time and be pumped full of unnecessary antibiotics that could cause thrush in breastfeeding infant.
Likewise, those that test negative at 37 weeks can actually be positive at delivery and their babies could be at risk.

Honestly, they need to develop a better method of testing this upon admission at the hospital.

Me personally, I'm doing all these regimines to secure a negative test (don't want IV antibiotics during labor) and will continue the regimine to KEEP it away. I feel much more secure and that my baby is much safer this way!

Cheekers2010

tessatewks:

Sawyerplus1:

merks23:

That's great news for you. I don't want to rain on your parade, but consider this...

I tested GBS+ in week 36 and then negative in week 38. (I just happened to have it done twice because I was between providers.) My provider is still going to treat me with antibiotics during labor, however, and I am allergic to both penicillins and sulfa drugs. My provider said that it is not bizarre that the outcome reversed (and without my own intervening) since the bacteria naturally dies and then re-colonizes (it's part of our bodies' natural cycle for those of us who are carriers). My provider also said that the risk to the baby of not treating far outweighs the inconvenience of the treatment, especially because you could retest positive the day you are in labor. I don't want an IV either, but I do want to do what is best for the baby. Also, my provider did say that if a GBS+ mother does not get to receive antibiotics within the specified time frame, that it would mean that the baby would need to be tested for the bacteria shortly after birth (a quick prick, I think). This has been my experience, take it or leave it. I would choose a home birth as well, but I'm much too high risk for that. It will (hopefully!) be my second unmedicated birth however. Good luck!  

I'm confused by this. If they only test once, at 37 weeks, during pregnancy, but the bacteria naturally comes and goes, how do they know who's a carrier? I've never tested positive, but does that mean I'm not a carrier, or does it mean they just caught me during a time when there was no bacteria?

If it's possible that you tested both negative and positive within a 2 week period, then how do they know more women/carriers that test negative at 37 weeks aren't positive by the time they deliver? Do my questions make sense?  I mean, you tested negative when most women normally have the test for the first and only time and you're still being treated for it....? It seems to me that if it was such a risk to mother and baby, and such a possibility for conflicting results within such a short time, that treating everyone for GBS 'just in case' would be a lot more common. 

Any insight? 

That's precisely teh problem with this test! You could be positive at 37 weeks but ACTUALLY be negative come delivery time.

Likewise, those that test negative at 37 weeks can actually be positive at delivery and their babies could be at risk.

Honestly, they need to develop a better method of testing this upon admission at the hospital.

This is exactly true.   

Sawyerplus1

Kellog+1:

tessatewks:

Sawyerplus1:

merks23:

That's great news for you. I don't want to rain on your parade, but consider this...

I tested GBS+ in week 36 and then negative in week 38. (I just happened to have it done twice because I was between providers.) My provider is still going to treat me with antibiotics during labor, however, and I am allergic to both penicillins and sulfa drugs. My provider said that it is not bizarre that the outcome reversed (and without my own intervening) since the bacteria naturally dies and then re-colonizes (it's part of our bodies' natural cycle for those of us who are carriers). My provider also said that the risk to the baby of not treating far outweighs the inconvenience of the treatment, especially because you could retest positive the day you are in labor. I don't want an IV either, but I do want to do what is best for the baby. Also, my provider did say that if a GBS+ mother does not get to receive antibiotics within the specified time frame, that it would mean that the baby would need to be tested for the bacteria shortly after birth (a quick prick, I think). This has been my experience, take it or leave it. I would choose a home birth as well, but I'm much too high risk for that. It will (hopefully!) be my second unmedicated birth however. Good luck!  

I'm confused by this. If they only test once, at 37 weeks, during pregnancy, but the bacteria naturally comes and goes, how do they know who's a carrier? I've never tested positive, but does that mean I'm not a carrier, or does it mean they just caught me during a time when there was no bacteria?

If it's possible that you tested both negative and positive within a 2 week period, then how do they know more women/carriers that test negative at 37 weeks aren't positive by the time they deliver? Do my questions make sense?  I mean, you tested negative when most women normally have the test for the first and only time and you're still being treated for it....? It seems to me that if it was such a risk to mother and baby, and such a possibility for conflicting results within such a short time, that treating everyone for GBS 'just in case' would be a lot more common. 

Any insight? 

That's precisely teh problem with this test! You could be positive at 37 weeks but ACTUALLY be negative come delivery time.

Likewise, those that test negative at 37 weeks can actually be positive at delivery and their babies could be at risk.

Honestly, they need to develop a better method of testing this upon admission at the hospital.

This is exactly true.   

Interesting. So then why aren't there more problems associated with misdiagnosis? Or why is "treatment as standard procedure" not a thing yet? (Not that I would support this AT ALL, but just with the way things are going with medicalized labor it surprises me that drs dont "cover their butts" byt treating everyone.)

xnbride

Yay! that is wonderful news. I plan on  doing the garlic cloves and hibiclens. I hope it works as well as it did for you!

thank you for sharing

Jcrab

I also tested positive for GBS in my urine at the beginning of my pregnancy, twice actually even after a round of antibiotics. My MW had me supplement with probiotics, cranberry, echinacea, Emergen-C for two weeks and then I tested negative. So hoping to be negative when they check again although technically my OB and the CDC say I should still be treated in labor; if I test negative with the swab at 37 weeks I will decline, besides I've antibiotics are not available with my plans to HBAC with a CNM.

Cheekers2010

I believe that some doctors do treat with antibiotics if you test positive early in pregnancy and negative later on. It's a weird thing. One of my friends tested negative with her first and positive with her second. Who knows...if the order had been reversed her doctor probably would have advised antibiotics.

Sawyerplus1

Kellog+1:

I believe that some doctors do treat with antibiotics if you test positive early in pregnancy and negative later on. It's a weird thing. One of my friends tested negative with her first and positive with her second. Who knows...if the order had been reversed her doctor probably would have advised antibiotics.

How common is it to be tested more than once in pregnancy? Or do they test somehow from the urine culture at the very beginning? I've only ever been tested once in each pregnancy, at least that I know of. 

tessatewks

Sawyerplus1:

Interesting. So then why aren't there more problems associated with misdiagnosis? Or why is "treatment as standard procedure" not a thing yet? (Not that I would support this AT ALL, but just with the way things are going with medicalized labor it surprises me that drs dont "cover their butts" byt treating everyone.)

Actually, I t hink in my research I had read somewhere some of the worst cases of GBS infection were when women were tested negative, but baby still got it and not observed closely for it due to the mother being "negative". I assume there ARE problems, it is just that doctors aren't talking to you about that. Even though this infection is very serious, it still is not common enough for ACOG to recommend IV abx treatment of all women.

Most GBS infection that is caught early in a pregnancy is done so in an ER situation where they may swab you, or in a urine culture. It isn't necessarily that they are repeatedly testing you specifically for GBS, but that the infection is found in a round-about way.

SqueezeTheClay

I realize that testing negative does not guarantee GBS will stay away.  My personal conviction after LOTS of research is that this infection really seems like a crap shoot.  All the stories I found online of GBS infection made me believe that it's really more a game of chance.  You can be negative and lose your baby anyway, you can be positive and do nothing and have a perfectly healthy baby.  .

I'm not dropping my little GBS prevention regimin just because I got the test result I want, I'm going to continue it until labor because I am well aware it can come back.   It is a serious infection when it hits, but with all the problems cause by overusing antibiotics, the current standard of care makes no sense to me.

Most regular doctors won't care about retesting you, and as PPs have stated, it wouldn't matter to them anyway if the result reversed.  My midwife has a more relaxed attitude about the whole thing, and I really appreciate that.  I don't like being messed with "just in case".

 

MadameFancyPants

Yay!!!  Way to go Mama! 

 I wish I'd known it was reversible back in the day!  

shunt1983

i just got a gbs+, im nervous because im worried how long you have before birth this is my 3rd, last time there were 4.5 bw time the adminstered until baby born.  this time maybe less, i dont want to give my nb iv antibiotics my first had staph so i try to avoid extra holes. 

StefandTodd

SqueezeTheClay:

I realize that testing negative does not guarantee GBS will stay away.  My personal conviction after LOTS of research is that this infection really seems like a crap shoot.  All the stories I found online of GBS infection made me believe that it's really more a game of chance.  You can be negative and lose your baby anyway, you can be positive and do nothing and have a perfectly healthy baby.  .

I'm not dropping my little GBS prevention regimin just because I got the test result I want, I'm going to continue it until labor because I am well aware it can come back.   It is a serious infection when it hits, but with all the problems cause by overusing antibiotics, the current standard of care makes no sense to me.

Most regular doctors won't care about retesting you, and as PPs have stated, it wouldn't matter to them anyway if the result reversed.  My midwife has a more relaxed attitude about the whole thing, and I really appreciate that.  I don't like being messed with "just in case".

 

That's fantastic that you reversed it!  Congratulations!!

My GBS+ status with my last LO has me totally nervous about when we have another baby.  With LO, I didn't make it to the hospital in time for antibiotics (my OB told me, "pshh....FTM?...you can stay home as long as you like b/c the liklihood you'll show up to the hospital with less than 4 hours to go is so slim, I'm not worried it'll happen..."  I therefore never considered that we should head in earlier than we did, and when we got there I was 8 cm and about an hour from pushing.  Oops!  They made us stay at the hospital for 48 hours to observe LO since I didn't get the antibiotics.  He was perfectly healthy.  If I am GBS+ with a future baby, I will be nervous that I'll miss the window to get treated and have to stay in the hospital separated from my LO for those 48 hours.  So I'm hopeful that I can reverse my status.  Thank you for sharing your success story in doing so!!