need help!

[Lisanne]

I've been planning a home birth through this whole pregnancy and then today (I'm 38 weeks) I'm told that my strep B test came back positive If I can get a dr to write the prescription my midwife can administer the antibiotics at home, but then I'd have to find a pediatrician to test the baby's blood or just wait to see if the baby gets any symptoms. Have any of you gone ahead with a home birth after a positive strep B and did you take any precautionary measures?

[Georgetown HB Mom]

You might try posting your question in birth professionals. There are many alternatives to doing antibiotics. I have seen lots of moms with Group B strep. We do not make a big deal about it. There are some herbal things you can do to cut down on the colonization. Also in labor if you have a water birth you can put hibaclense in the water and your midwife can use hibaclense mixed in with the get during internal exams. There is no reason to take your baby to the doctor and get blood drawn. The chances of the baby getting group B strep are extremely rare. And since the colonization goes up and down you may very well be negative when you go into labor.

Lisa
Senior Midwife Student

[Lisanne]

Thanks. I was also thinking of trying to get retested although it may be too late to get the results in time. My mom's best friend had a little one who got the group B strep and it was a little scary. I know it's rare, but I would hate for something to happen and I hadn't done anything to prevent it. My midwife recommended a suppository that has healthy bacteria in it and I may try that. Everything has just been so perfect with this pregnancy that it was such a shock to have this come up so close to the end.

[lillyfire]

I was GBS positive with my first pregnancy, so if I was seeing an OB they wouldn't even test again but just consider me positive and do antibiotics. My MW suggested a vaginal wash when birth is very close. She said it's very popular in Europe, as they tend to be a little more progressive medically. My best friend used that last time and said it was easy and no big deal. And she had a waterbirth, so it must not affect that. I'm sure there are many informed people here who can give you options. I'm surprised your MW didn't have more options for you, as mine suggested several, I just don't remember them all.

[DahliaRW]

I'm surprised your MW can't get the antibiotics herself if you want them. In my state the MW can get them. Of course, there are alternatives to antibiotics as well.

[mlec]

There's so much you can do. Take probiotics (PB8), insert garlic cloves vaginally, yogurt vaginally, lots of raw garlic. I'm sure if you search you'll find lots of info. I've had 2 hbs while GBS pos, and even though I did not follow all the protocall, no GBS transmitted.

[Lisanne]

Originally Posted by DahliaRW

I'm surprised your MW can't get the antibiotics herself if you want them. In my state the MW can get them. Of course, there are alternatives to antibiotics as well.

Midwives can't prescribe medication here so I have to get a dr to write it for me. I tried calling the dr today and they say he's busy and asked me to call tomorrow morning :

Thanks for the replies. I'll see what I can find out about a vaginal wash and it's nice to hear of people who didn't pass it to the baby instead of the usual horror stories.