Those who didn't GBS test

[aprilushka]

I'm not b/c my mw can't do it right now (technicalities with labs b/c she won't have her license for a few more months) and I'm not going to a doctor just for that. However, this is the last thing that sort of nags at me for a worry. I think I'm going to ask an MD- homeopath who does home visits to come for a 24 hour visit and also obviously my mw will do her normal checks. But my question is-- what other vigilance is prudent? Taking baby's temp at certain intervals after mw leaves? What have you all done?

I'm also planning on rinsing with Hibiclens during early labor to cut down on any risk there might be.

[violetbutterfly]

My MW can do a swab after birth in the baby's ear and send that in for a test. She actually didn't do that with my last baby and we were fine. I was never tested for it myself. My MW says that actually giving the mom antibiotics during labor (like they do in the hospital) doesn't keep the baby from getting GBS. It just gets rid of the symptoms in the mom. I had never heard that before. I might just have her do the swab this time to be on the safe side.

[mamaverdi]

Heard back when my first was born 6 years ago that midwives in England just do expectant management: they look for signs of infection and treat if there are any. If your baby is sleeping near you and you have a good thermometer, not the ear ones, then you are likely to miss a fever or other problems.

The Hibiclens wash really burns. There are other measures you could take that wouldn't be as harmful or harsh. What about looking in Aviva Jill Romm's Natural Pregnancy book?

mv

[alegna]

I refused the test. I would not have done antibotics anyway. I watched for signs of infection.

-Angela

[txgal]

I am having the test, but as long as we have the homebirth I will not do the antibiotics. Since I am a VBAC I am hoping to get a negative result, incase we have to transfer I won't have to have the antibiotics at the hospital. I think the only way I would do the antibiotics at home were if my membranes were ruptured for an extended amount of time, like 12 hrs or more.

[aprilushka]

Unfortunately b/c of labs not opening an account for her right now we can't do any tests, before or after and she couldn't give abx-- we'd have to go the hospital for that (which will almost certainly nix having a vaginal birth for me). I'm okay in theory with careful observation, etc I'm just afraid I'm going to sleep pretty hard after the birth and maybe miss something. We'll have to figure something out.

I'm taking probiotics and extra vit C, and I could do garlic too but I still think I'll put up with the discomfort of Hibiclens b/c I will feel like my bases are better covered.

[kerikadi]

I didn't test with #4. I was pos with #3 and the pregnancies were very close. I didn't receive abx in either labor or delivery.
My MW SOP for GBS+ is to administer abx after the water has been broken for 6 hours with no baby. Then she does a 20 min IV - probably more to cover her ass then anything.
Both of my babies were born within minutes of my water breaking so there were no worries. Of course we did take the baby's temp every hour or so for the first 24.
Next time I will get tested again I think just so I know. I plan on doing probiotics in preparation. It would be nice if I was neg. and it never had to cross my mind again

Keri

[mama_at_home]

Hmm, I don't even remember talking about GBS??

[homebirthmama2four]

My last three births were unassisted, so no didn't get the test or any test for that matter.

All turned out OK. Won't be having one this time either.

[wednesday]

I didn't research this in advance and so I would have simply had the test when I was pregnant with my son, but my water broke before my 37-week appointment (when the test was scheduled). I overheard the midwives discussing my lack of a GBS "status" soon after I arrived at the birth center in labor and they sounded very unconcerned. At the time I wondered why they didn't just give me the test right then but it turns out it has to culture for 48 hours, and I guess they send it out somewhere. Anyway they acted like it was no big deal, didn't say a word about antibiotics, and just told me to take my son's temp twice a day for the next three days in case he started to run a fever. He didn't, and everything was fine. Based on that I will not have the test done in future pregnancies.

[teachinmaof3]

We just kept an eye on the baby for any symptoms.

One plus that I had was my water doesn't break until 10 minutes before baby is born (during pushing).

[sprout 1]

My midwives for ds's birth told me that it's possible to test + and not have it by the time of delivery, and it's also possible to test - and acquire it by the time of birth, so the test isn't be-all end-all. Of course they could be wrong, but it's worth thinking about. I think it's a very small percentage of babies who actually are infected when the mom is + anyways, but when they are infected it's serious. I won't be having the test this time, we'll just be watching for symptoms.

[Midwife Kris]

Originally Posted by aprilushka

But my question is-- what other vigilance is prudent?

The signs and symptoms for a GBS infection in baby might be something like this: low or high temperature, unstable fluctuating temperature, poor color of the baby’s skin-(blue, gray, dusky, pale), lethargy or unable to arouse, poor feedings, redness around the umbilicus, and/or fast, difficult, or noisy breathing (babies breathe at a rate of 40-60 times a minute when they are not crying or otherwise agitated).

I hope that helps. I like the chlorhexidine (aka hibiclens) wash for GBS+ and it's something we recommend for GBS+ moms or prolonged rupture of membranes without labor in lieu of antibiotics.

[MistyB]

What about tea tree oil suppositories?

[mamaverdi]

I think the key with Prolonged rupture of membranes is PUT NOTHING IN THE VAGINA. No hands, no specula, no hibclens.

You can do the hibiclens wash, but the point isn't just that it burns, but it is potentially damaging to the tissue....AND that it doesn't really matter unless you're gonna do it right before the baby is born.

Eating well and taking care of yourself and WATCHING for infection in your baby within reason are the important things. Are you in touch with your intuition in general?

The main thing is to be tuned into and trust your intuition. It can be hard with all the outside noise. But it's invaluable.

[aprilushka]

Originally Posted by metromidwife

The signs and symptoms for a GBS infection in baby might be something like this: low or high temperature, unstable fluctuating temperature, poor color of the baby’s skin-(blue, gray, dusky, pale), lethargy or unable to arouse, poor feedings, redness around the umbilicus, and/or fast, difficult, or noisy breathing (babies breathe at a rate of 40-60 times a minute when they are not crying or otherwise agitated).

I hope that helps. I like the chlorhexidine (aka hibiclens) wash for GBS+ and it's something we recommend for GBS+ moms or prolonged rupture of membranes without labor in lieu of antibiotics.

Thanks, that was something I really wanted to know-- what to watch for.

On Hibiclens, I'm not planning to do it until I'm sure I'm in labor and it's going somewhere, and I'm only going to do the outside area, no inside douching, etc at all.

I'm doing garlic in the vagina right now and taking probiotics, so hopefully that will take care of anything else, and taking plenty of alfalfa and Vit C which hopefully will help me avoid ROM until pushing. And definitely no vaginal exams unless I get pushy and think it might be premature or I am having a very prolonged labor and palpitation isn't working to assess position. I just want to try to do noninvasive things to do my best to avoid a strep possibility and I think a couple of Hibiclens washes that are external are pretty noninvasive as far as interventions go.

[valeria_vi]

del

[UmmBnB]

Originally Posted by nancymom

Hmm, I don't even remember talking about GBS??

ditto