Speaking of Tests... « Back to Group Discussions

[calapitters]

Lets's talk about GBS.  It's a ways off yet, but I'm feeling a need to prepare.  

I always test positive for this, which leads pre labor hospital visits because I'm so scared that I won't make it there in time to get a dose of antibiotics.  And I don't.  So it's lots of rushing around for nothing when I could be in my comfortable house.  

The risks of transferring this bacteria to baby scare the living daylights out of DH and me, so we will definitely be testing.  But I would like to test negative. 

So, my question is, have any of you ever had a + result and used a remedy and wound up with a - result, and if so, what remedy(ies) did you try? Were you comfortable that it actually killed the colony?  My midwife is totally on board with this, but she doesn't know too much about any remedies, unfortunately.  

[livelovelaugh]

I was GBS+ with my first but not with my other two.  I actually wonder if the GBS had anything to do with my water rupturing a week early, which then lead to an emergency c-section...but that's a whole other topic!

My memory of it is that once you test positive you could test negative after that, but then positive again at any time...is that right?  Can't remember what week they do the test at, but I seem to remember them not re-testing after that because there was still a chance of it being positive at birth...

[KristaDJ]

Anyone can test positive and then negative at any time. In other countries (with better outcomes) they don't test for this at all. Some women are always GBS positive. The fact is that a full term, healthy baby is at next to no risk from it and babies born to mothers who are GBS positive and given abx do not have better outcomes than babies whose mothers don't get abx. That said there are things that you can do to help lower your risk of carrying GBS in your vagina, unfortunately they are in a thread on another forum so I can't just post it here. If you want I can pm you the post (with permission from the OP), it has a ton of information. 

[tinams8]

Krista, I would love to read it if you don't mind PMing me. I've been GBS+ twice and it is a pain. I'd love to avoid the antibiotics this time if possible.

[MamaInTheDesert]

My midwife and I talked about GBS at our last visit. She said that one option I had if I tested positive was to do a vaginal douche in labor. I looked it up in my book and it's listed as a "Chlorhexadine wash."

I have to admit GBS scares the sh*t out of me. I had GBS as a baby and my mom talks about it as one of the scariest times in her life. I will definitely have to do some more research if I do test positive, but one study my midwife cited did conclude that the wash was as effective as the antibiotics, and also reduced the rate of neonatal E. Coli colonization.

[yellow73]

I was positive with my first baby, negative with the second.  My homebirth midwife had me do a vaginal wash when I was in labor called "Hibiclens."  If you are positive there isn't much different if you are homebirthing, other than doing the cleanse and watching for fever during and after labor.  I think my midwives do give you more a time limit as far as how long you can labor after your water breaks, something like 24 hours (higher risk of infection.)  It did scare me a bit the first time, but the Hibiclens is show to be very effective.   Good luck!

[yellow73]

Here's something I found in a quick google search about a study of the Hibiclens/chlorhexadine wash.

http://navelgazingmidwife.squarespace.com/navelgazing-midwife-blog/2010/6/16/chlorhexidinehibiclens-vaginal-wash-info.html

[KristaDJ]

Originally Posted by tinams8 

Krista, I would love to read it if you don't mind PMing me. I've been GBS+ twice and it is a pain. I'd love to avoid the antibiotics this time if possible.

I talked to the OP of the thread and she gave me a link to a PDF version :-D Here it is: http://www.agapedoula.com/pregnancyissues.html  
Obviously it is under GBS ;-) 

[rebirth]

I did gbs prevention last time and was neg. Echinadia tincture 3x day
for a week and a half before testing and some homeopathic...

Doula mama to my nursing toddler Noah

[jocelyndale]

I tested positive last time via vestibular swab and again after a couple weeks of garlic (suppository), garlic oil (oral), probiotics, and I can't remember what else.  I can't do the preferred antibiotics nor chlorhexidine washes due to allergies.  So even without going into philosophical or general non-personal medical reasons, treatment just isn't an option for me.

Fortunately, my water broke less than three hours before DS was born, so risk was very low of neonatal GBS issues.  My provider (an OB) and I opted for skipping all "routine" third trimester cervical checks.  I did have two once I was in labor (arrived at hospital in transition, then another check just before I pushed).  I might even decline those this time around.  My body knew what it was doing. 

The hospital peds wanted to keep my son the full 48 hours, but we left around the 12 hour mark.  My doctor told me that a GP would've released DS and also would've told me to do exactly what they were doing--take his temperature a couple times a day and watch for lethargy.  With two paranoid first time parents, a grandmother RN, and a second grandmother at home, we figured we could handle that.  We sent someone out for a thermometer and went home to enjoy our new family.  Had I had a lengthy labor, run a fever, etc, I might have made a different choice, but all went swimmingly.

Anyhow, keeping cervical checks to a minimum and hoping that labor goes quickly once your water breaks--those are your best bets.  

[BroodyWoodsgal]

Were I you, I'd begin the preventative measures PPs spoke of a few weeks before testing.  I wouldnt wait til I had a + test. GBS doesn't personally bother me too much because the chances of having a real problem are SO so slim....but when there IS a problem, it tends to be a pretty big one, so I totally get somebody being really freaked by it. I'm crossing my fingers for a negative test this time for you!!

[calapitters]

Originally Posted by yellow73 

Here's something I found in a quick google search about a study of the Hibiclens/chlorhexadine wash.

http://navelgazingmidwife.squarespace.com/navelgazing-midwife-blog/2010/6/16/chlorhexidinehibiclens-vaginal-wash-info.html

This is a great resource, thank you!

 

Originally Posted by KristaDJ 

I talked to the OP of the thread and she gave me a link to a PDF version :-D Here it is: http://www.agapedoula.com/pregnancyissues.html  
Obviously it is under GBS ;-) 

Another great resource, thanks for sharing!

I didn't realize that Hibicleanse was so well researched.  This is great news and will make DH feel much more comfortable, too.  I realize that the risk of infection is very low, but my youngest was born with a condition that affects 1 in every 10,000 newborns, so I am a little leery of serious statics right now.  I mean, it has to happen to someone, right?  

[BroodyWoodsgal]

Originally Posted by calapitters 

This is a great resource, thank you!

 

Another great resource, thanks for sharing!

I didn't realize that Hibicleanse was so well researched.  This is great news and will make DH feel much more comfortable, too.  I realize that the risk of infection is very low, but my youngest was born with a condition that affects 1 in every 10,000 newborns, so I am a little leery of serious statics right now.  I mean, it has to happen to someone, right?  

^You are not overreacting to the risks, honey...especially given your history of being "the one" who has the rare, weird thing happen. It's easy for me to not give a second thought to the risks...never had anything "weird" or rare happen, never tested + for GBS...etc....if you care about it, if it presses on you..it's worth caring about. That's what I always say to mamas who are like "I feel a calm sense of really needing to stay on top of this, am I weird?" - I'm like "no...if you feel like you need to stay on top of it despite the small risks...than you should pay attention to that" - you know?

You are being a good mama by being thorough and checking out all options.

[KristaDJ]

Originally Posted by BroodyWoodsgal 

 That's what I always say to mamas who are like "I feel a calm sense of really needing to stay on top of this, am I weird?" - I'm like "no...if you feel like you need to stay on top of it despite the small risks...than you should pay attention to that" - you know?

So very true.