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Natural Birth
GBS + and feeling defeated..
I'm a FTM and had planned on going natural with the help of hypnobabies. I just found out I am GBS+ so as soon as my water breaks I have to go to L&D to start antibiotics. Looking for encouragement to go natural despite this road block?
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Re: GBS + and feeling defeated..
I was GBS+ with DD and it didn't affect my ability to have a pain med-free birth (also using Hypnobabies). While it isn't ideal I just had a heplock so I was only confined to the bed for a couple 15 minute periods during labor which wasn't a big deal. I used that time to just use my finger drop and go limp during contractions in a seated position.
Your water may not break until well into labor so laboring at home for awhile may still be an option anyways! I arrived 4cm, got my antibiotics then was able to move and do as I pleased until around 7-8cm where I had one more round of antibiotics before being allowed to move freely again. They ended up breaking my water for me at 9cm.
I was stressed about it affecting my ability to go natural but it really didn't affect the process for me. Don't worry about it! Many women who are GBS+ still have the birth they want. Not a big deal!
I don't know how far along you are but your GBS status cn change in several weeks. If you go more than four weeks ( even by a day) ask to be retested if you think it is going to hinder your NB plan.
ETA: Last time my OB sad he would have tested me again 3 weeks after the first test had I been postive and wanted it. SO just ask if it is an option to be retested
I was GBS+ last pregnancy. I actually didn't know it until after I delivered the baby; I went into labor at 36 weeks, labored at home for as long as possible, arrived at the hospital 9.5 cm dilated & only pushed for 10 minutes. We weren't in the hospital for even 30 minutes - so they didn't have time to check the chart re: GBS or even think about it. After he was born they figured out that the test at my 35 week appt had been positive, but that I had not been told the results yet.
Anyway, despite the fact our child was a late-term premie (36 weeker) they recommended we skip the antibiotics and take a "wait and see" approach. First, the chance of infection is incredibly small. Second, we had a very fast labor and delivery (start to finish about 2.5 hours) which reduces the chance of transmission. Third, my water broke right as I started pushing (once again minimizing chance of infection). Fourth, I had minimal vaginal exams (one upon arrival of hospital, water still intact during exam). They gave me a list of signs and symptoms to look for and were not concerned at all. Surprising, considering this was a hospital where I delivered.
Honestly, if I were you, I would do some of your own research on GBS. Decide what you are comfortable with - do you WANT to receive the antibiotics? If so, then yep you'll have to head to the hospital - but be ready to advocate for your natural birth. Do not let them lay you up in that bed!!!!! Get on your feet and move around - laying down is the worst thing you can do to proceed w/ a natural childbirth in the hospital. It just slows everything down which is a trigger for the hospital staff to start intervening.
If after you do your research you decide that GBS isn't something you want to AUTOMATICALLY worry about, then labor at home as long as you want. If you get there in time for antibiotics, then fine, but you might get to the hospital too late. You have a right to refuse antibiotics for your newborn if you so choose.
I don't know how far along you are, but another option you could look into is some natural treatments for GBS. Some OB offices will let you re-test closer to 40 weeks. You can look into alternative treatments & possibly test positive in 4-6 weeks if you have that much time.
I haven't had the test yet, but since I was positive last time, I'm doing some alternative treatments (supplements, etc) to hopefully test negative. GBS is something that comes and goes - most people have it at some point. I would rather test negative and not have to worry about fighting against antibiotics (which I feel VERY strongly that I do not want and do not want my newborn to have unless he/she has signs of GBS). The protocol I'm using takes 4-6 weeks & with luck I'll test negative this go-around. (to all the nay-sayers out there, it's not "tricking" the test or anything, the treatments just strengthen your immune system and overpower GBS).
I haven't read other replies yet. My perspective may seem odd, but I am a FTM mom who was planning on a hospital birth but hoping for no to minimal intervention. We're working with a Doula to try to make this happen. The odd part is that I am hoping my GBS test comes back positive. I know that's kind of weird, but both of my sisters were GBS + and one sister had terrible problems post-delivery with uterine infections when it wasn't treated properly. Furthermore, according to the natural method of charting that my hubby and I use, I already have symptoms of GBS. So, I'd rather they catch it, treat it correctly, and everyone avoids infection (me and baby) than get a negative and worry and wonder if they missed it (in my case; I realize not everyone has the same fears/background).
Our doula is aware that I will likely be GBS+, and she pointed out that getting to the hospital a little early will allow them to give me antibiotic doses when I am still in a "happy place" for labor, and then I could be unhooked to walk around and labor as naturally as I would like. Basically, we don't anticipate the need for antibiotics to get in the way of anything! I recommend you surround yourself with supportive folks who want to help you have that natural labor so that the antibiotics will just be a minor blip in your plans instead of a game changer!
I was GBS+ with my first and had a pain med-free birth at a hospital with a MW. I went in when I felt that I should, no sooner (couldn't walk or talk through extremely strong contractions). I got the first round of antibiotics while I was monitored for a little while, getting checked, filling up the bathtub, etc. Then they left the heplock in, unhooked the IV, and I was able to get in and out of the bath, walk around the room, etc. The second bag was given while I was laboring on the birthing ball but I could have gotten it in the tub if I had wanted to. I was able to move as long as I took the pole with me and ended up with it in through transition and pushing the baby out. I honestly didn't even notice it except for the initial hook up.
Talk to your dr or mw! Find out what restrictions this is going to cause and how you can get around them so you can create a plan with these limitations. I honestly didn't have any to speak of so maybe if you have the conversation now you'll feel better about it. It's really not as big of a deal as people make it out to be, some women even get the first bag and then go home to labor and come back later for the second one and to give birth.
I was GBS+ last time and my water broke before I had any contractions. I went to the hospital for a bag of antibiotics, got the 8 hr kind, and then went home. Still wasn't have any contractions so I did a natural induction method.
We were planning a home birth so the MWs came every 8hrs to give me another dose.
Most women don't have labor start with their water breaking. It's something like 12%. So odds are on your side that you'll labour for a while before it happens.
If it did happen you could always go to hospital, get a hep lock and a round of antibiotics, and then go home to labor for a while.
I had the option for a 4hr antibiotic or an 8hr one that was broader spectrum one. Maybe that will be an option for you?
Good luck!
I would just wait to go in then. If your water breaks before labor starts it's one thing, but if it's just contractions I'd wait until you would have gone in anyway. Your water rarely spontaneously breaks before labor begins so you'll probably have plenty of time to labor at home before heading in to get hooked up.
I'd also ask what their protocol is if you refuse the antibiotics. Some places will automatically treat baby w/ antibiotics when he/she is born - some hospitals (ours) do not. If you're comfortable skipping them & they don't auto. give the baby any, that might be an option for you.