Homebirth with GBS?

[RachelGS]

I just had my first baby in a birthing center (a WONDERFUL experience), and am thinking about a home birth the second time around. My question is about Group B Strep. I had tons of it during my pregnancy, and after the sixth (!) urinary tract infection caused by GBS, I wound up on prophylactic antibiotics for most of my third trimester. I also had IV antibiotics every 8 hours during my labor. It wasn't what I had envisioned, but if something had happened to my baby because I didn't want a needle in my arm, I never would have forgiven myself. She was born safe and healthy, but I continue to battle GBS. Can I have a home birth if I'm strep-positive next time? Have any of you navigated the idea of antibiotics at home?

[chocomoto]

I had my son at home 2 months ago. At 34 weeks I tested pos for GBS, then at 36 weeks tested neg. I did not do any further testing after that, though the GBS very well may have returned. My midwife told me that the presence of GBS is fairly normal and can come and go. She also stressed that even if I did have GBS, the risk of contaminating the baby were low, and she followed us closely for 10 days after the birth.
Sorry I can't answer your question. I guess you have to weigh the benefits and the risks and make a decision. Good luck.

[tinyshoes]

I think you can have IV antibiotics at home--there are frustrating laws, though...

I heard in Seattle it's aok for a direct-entry midwife to give IV anti=biotics at home--AFTER the FIRST BAG has been dosed @ the hospital. Something about the inital dose being so strong it could cause shcok (I can't spell 'anaphalectic'!)

Investigate! GOod luck!

[indigolilybear]

hi! there are many threads on this....might want to do a search for it.
anyway, i delivered at home after testing pos for it. you CAN do antibiotics at home either taking oral ones and estimating the delivery date or by IV. i did neither. GBS is very controversial and you might want to really do some research on it to make an informed decision.
also, it is ME that you can also deal w/GBS w/body work & affirmations and homeopathics. (That's what we did and we tested neg. after our positive.....w/our next, we didn't test.)
HTH

[LaLaLuna]

My second was born at home and I had tested + for GBS. My midwife ended up giving me a shot of antibiotics in the ass but we were quite confident that I'd have such a fast labor that more than that wouldnt be necessary. (and sure enough- it was less than two hours start to finish. thank you water tub!!!) The antibiotics were prescribed by the ObGyn we used for our first (hospital) birth as he works closely with the midwife we had but I believe there were some minor shenanigans about having the midwife actually get them. I felt fairly ambiguous about having them but it was one of those deals where I let the midwife make the call b/c I trusted her and was too busy stressing on how my 2 yo would react to siblinghood and being on bedrest for high bp. :

[RachelGS]

Such a nerve-wracking situation. I did do a ton of reading when I was trying to decide about antibiotics with my first birth. One of the things that came up again and again and again in the literature was that the rate of transmission of GBS to the baby was much higher if the bacteria had also colonized in the urinary tract. For me, it wasn't there one week and then not the next-- I had copious amounts of GBS in my system every single time I tested (which I did at every visit for the entire second half of my pregnancy), despite trying body work, acupuncture, homeopathics, etc. I also had lots and lots of symptoms from GBS-caused UTIs, and at one point had some kidney trouble as well, so I was pretty convinced that I was in a higher-risk category as far as possibly transmitting GBS to my baby. The decision to do antibiotics was made ahead of time and felt like the right thing. I wound up being glad I did it because my baby turned posterior at the last second and I had an almost 38-hour labor. We minimized vaginal exams to try to keep from introducing the bacteria into the cervix. Even my midwife, who had been doing homebirths for 25 years before starting the birth center, said it seemed like a complicated situation. But it's good to hear your stories. I would like to have a homebirth if possible, but with my particular GBS situation (if it repeats), I think antibiotics need to at least be an option.

[SpiralWoman]

hi Rachel~
I think the ability of a homebirth midwife to get & give IV antibiotics at home will vary according to state licensing regulations.

Here is our situation in TN. We are using a CPM (Certified Professional Midwife, which I believe is an International thing) and she is also licensed by the state. She has told us that she can give IV antibiotics at home, the problem is getting them. Unlike the oxygen & pitocin & local anastetic she carries routinely, she has to get a special prescription from a MD right before she needs it & we have to jump thru several hoops, etc bcz the MDs do not want to let the stuff out of their hands due to liability reasons. However, if we needed it I am sure we could navigate these hoops & get it done, & continue to plan our home birth.

I hope that there in MA you will have a similar or better circumstance.

All my support & respect for the decisions you are making for you & your babe,
blessings, Maria

[JesseMomme]

I have heard many times of colliodial silver being used to treat GBS+ . That would make the antibiotics obsolete at least. I am too tired now, but can do a search on it, of course anyone can do a search
Also active acidiphilous (sp, it is late LOL) found in yougert or even in tab form at the pharmacy section of the grocery store or at the health food store....

[veganmamma]

My midwives give antibiotics thru IV for homebirths under certain circumstances. They are CNMs. My moms water broke with no contrax, so I asked what they would do bc I don't want to be induced for at least 48 hours. They said after 18 hours they would start an IV so I could keep trying to get going.

[Brigitte]

Colloidial silver is a very powerful antibiotic which will kill any pathogen on contact. You could douche w/it a few times (Mix solution with water) if you test positive, then re-test. You can also drink it, but it makes more sense to douche since the vagina is where the baby comes in contact with the pathogen. You can find collodial silver at health food stoes, and on-line.

[greensmile]

I tested pos. w/ a high count. I got rid of it using grapefruit seed extract, echinacea and vit c. At alternate times in the day I used a multistrain flora powder by Jarrow. Get tested early enough to treat- at least 3 weeks, so by 35 weeks or so.

[LukesMum]

Brigette and Greensmile-
could you give some specifics on amounts to use>?????????
Thanks!

[LukesMum]

Bump!

just tested postive!

[Peppamint]

Luke'sMum- there's another thread on page 1 about GBS... check it out!

[LukesMum]

what do you mean "page 1"??

[Peppamint]

Oh, sorry. I meant page 1 of the Homebirth forum. It's titled Beta Strep and Homebirth?

[bigbigbellie]

Is it legal in California for a CNM to give antibiotics thru IV for homebirths? My midwife says that she is not allowed.

Originally posted by veganmamma
My midwives give antibiotics thru IV for homebirths under certain circumstances. They are CNMs. My moms water broke with no contrax, so I asked what they would do bc I don't want to be induced for at least 48 hours. They said after 18 hours they would start an IV so I could keep trying to get going.