strep b & homebirth

[EKilgore]

Hi Folks-

I am 39 weeks pregnant and recently tested positive for strep b which has been known to cause infection in about .5-1% of newborns whose moms are infected. My midwife's course of action is to take baby's temperature each hour for the first 24 hrs and take baby to the hospital immediately if there are any symptoms of infection.
I have also been seeing an obgyn who is monitoring me for a blood disorder I have called factor V leiden. Surprisingly he has been way cool about the homebirth plans until now. He basically said my midwife would be seriously negligent to allow a homebirth with the strep b. The general course of action recommended by him (as well as virtually all research I have located) is for the mom to take IV antibiotics during the labor- which unfortunately seems to only be done at the hospital.
Some other natural treatments I have read about include taking garlic, vitamin c, echinacea, and bee propolis, but I haven't seen any results on the effectivness of this course of treatment (though isn't that always the case with the natural remedies?). The other thing I read is that mom can insert a clove of garlic into her vagina each night for at least a week prior to delivery.
My obgyn did concede and gave me a perscription for an oral antibiotic, but said it would not be as effective as the IV. I have yet to fill it.
If anyone has further information on this subject I would really appreciate it.
Have a nice day!

[Shenjall]

I was +ive when I had my homebirth. We did the iv antibiotics. Why cant you have them at home? Did your midwife tell you this or the ob?


Sorry, I dont have any experience about your blood disorder. But there was no issue for me or my dd when she was born. Hopefully some other mamas will have more info for you.

[alegna]

I declined testing for GBS. Giving antibiotics has not been proven to improve outcomes overall.

-Angela

[sebarnes]

I think your mw's protocol is perfectly acceptable. I chose not to be tested at all with dd, but my mw with dd offered to do a hibiclens wash (basically a douche) during labor if I wanted. It has been used with good results in some European countries as a method of dealing with Strep B. She may not do IVs because in some states mws CAN'T legally do IVs. I would actually prefer to do the watch and wait that your mw does than taking antibiotics that can lead to your baby developing antibiotic resistant infections, among other things.

Your OB probably doesn't know that it most European countries it is not routine to even test for Strep B and yet their infant mortality rate is far lower than ours.

[Shenjall]

She may not do IVs because in some states mws CAN'T legally do IVs.

I had no idea. Interesting.

[Full Heart]

Originally Posted by EKilgore

Hi Folks-

I am 39 weeks pregnant and recently tested positive for strep b which has been known to cause infection in about .5-1% of newborns whose moms are infected. My midwife's course of action is to take baby's temperature each hour for the first 24 hrs and take baby to the hospital immediately if there are any symptoms of infection.
I have also been seeing an obgyn who is monitoring me for a blood disorder I have called factor V leiden. Surprisingly he has been way cool about the homebirth plans until now. He basically said my midwife would be seriously negligent to allow a homebirth with the strep b. The general course of action recommended by him (as well as virtually all research I have located) is for the mom to take IV antibiotics during the labor- which unfortunately seems to only be done at the hospital.
Some other natural treatments I have read about include taking garlic, vitamin c, echinacea, and bee propolis, but I haven't seen any results on the effectivness of this course of treatment (though isn't that always the case with the natural remedies?). The other thing I read is that mom can insert a clove of garlic into her vagina each night for at least a week prior to delivery.
My obgyn did concede and gave me a perscription for an oral antibiotic, but said it would not be as effective as the IV. I have yet to fill it.
If anyone has further information on this subject I would really appreciate it.
Have a nice day!

Is the oral abx for during labor or before? Taking before has not shown to reduce any amount of infection in babies. Have you looked into a hibicleanse? You might not have time to retest though before you give birth. But if you can at least do the hibicleanse at least you have your bases covered. Also prevention is the key to fighting infection. Don't allow any VE's, AROM, Membrane sweeps etc. I really think thats the biggest culprit to infection. Have you checked out the Jesse Cause website? They have tons of good info there. HTH.

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by alegna

I declined testing for GBS. Giving antibiotics has not been proven to improve outcomes overall.

-Angela

:

[EKilgore]

thanks for all the info. My mw did say that antibiotics were not proven to reduce infetion, but all of the research I have seen thus far says they do (these come from the center for disease control).... but i know mainstream medicine often misses the mark. i'm sure they haven't controlled for babies who are only breastfed and all the other things that naturally prevent infection.
the oral antibiotics were intended for me to start taking several days before delivery. my obgyn gave me a refill for them too in case i don't deliver right away, but i really am uncomfortable with ab use.
i am going to buy the hibiclens today, hopefully that will help!

[alegna]

One of the problems seen is that in women who have antibiotics the newborns are MORE likely to have several other kinds of infections.

-Angela

[babsbob]

I agree with Angela.
I opted not to have the screening - instead I will take probiotics until the birth. My midwife says this is more effective than the antiobiotics and prevents more infections than just GBS - like e.coli for example.

[pamamidwife]

you can cut those infection rates in half because you're having a term baby.

and, you can refuse any vaginal exams prenatally and in labor. that will help, too.

I agree with probiotics - antibx increases the risk of yeast imbalance (thrush for breastfeeding). Antibx is overkill.

I think the temperature taking is overkill, especially since newborns have very variable temps in the first 24 hours.

I think you have to be ok with the rates of infection and the risk - and decide on your own what feels comfortable to you.

[Gray's Mommy]

I tested positive also for GBS (urine & swab cultures) & will be getting antibiotics in labor. Since I have a horrible UTI (from the GBS) I am on antibiotics now. That may wipe out the GBS, so I wouldn't need it during labor. Anyways, I have done my homework & feel good about my decision about using anti. in labor if I need them. Do what you feel is right & that will be the right choice for you.

[myfairbabies]

mothering has some good articles about this, do a search on their main page

[kerikadi]

I also agree with Angela.
We do the same thing your MW suggests, taking the temp every hour or so and looking for signs that may indicate babe is in trouble though we would need to see more than 1 high temp to run to the hospital, I would likely call my homebirth friendly ped and consult with her first, she also does housecalls so we may have her come by before making the hospital decision.

Keri

[p1gg1e]

Some other natural treatments I have read about include taking garlic, vitamin c, echinacea, and bee propolis, but I haven't seen any results on the effectivness of this course of treatment (though isn't that always the case with the natural remedies?). The other thing I read is that mom can insert a clove of garlic into her vagina each night for at least a week prior to delivery.

I'm doing the garlic clove vag. every night for 3 nights then off ( It insert then probiotics 3 days off the garlic) and I now am getting great results.. My PH is acidic.. I have hiba clense on hand just incase my water is broken for a long time but thats it. HTH

I'm, also taking vita. C , garlic and probiotics ( 50 billion 3 x day) orally every day.

[Arwyn]

The risk of a full-term, healthy infant born to a mother who is asymptomatic (as opposed to showing signs of pathologic infection: fever, pain, etc) developing disease from GBS is very, very small. IV antibiotics may reduce the incidence further, but they also introduce a host of other potential problems, especially if receiving them requires birthing in a hospital. It is up to you which set of risks you prefer. Your doctor obviously has a preference (because he is used to or doesn't acknowledge the risks that come from hospital birth and IV antibiotics), but it's not his choice to make. It is yours.

[Mamatolea]

I am GBS+ as well, we opted for the Hibiclens douche as well. We will also just keep an eye for infection. I think that IV antibiotics also excaberate other problems and outweigh the benefit(not to mention my absolute hatred of IV/needles/hospitals!!)

It sounds to me like your OB is not much for the natural way of life...I am SO glad I have just a midwife who is excellent and they are all about natural, no induction, membrane sweeps, glucose testing, etc, etc, etc..I am so much more relaxed without testing and things like that. When I went for my massage yesterday, they told me I was the happiest, most relaxed 9 month pregnant woman they had ever seen..lol

Thank goodness for : !!

[heidi_m]

nak

was gbs+ as well and had healthy 10 1/2 lb baby at home in the water, no problems. i began taking a high quality probiotic when the test came back (ftr i also agree with alegna and next time will not test) because hydrogen peroxide is a natural biproduct of acidophilus metabolism and effectively bathes vaginal tissues thusly ridding/preventing gbs. i also used the hydrogen peroxide vaginal wash described at ronnie falcao's gentlebirth.org site.

i would not take the abx given everything i've seen, esp given how that could mess w baby's gut flora and cause all kinds of other probs. also, as pp said, is YOUR choice, not your dr's. (incidentally will likely continue probiotics in my diet; kept them to help establish healthy gut flora for baby; so maybe i will test next time just to see & will assume if gbs- that pro-b's helped! was + first preg, neg second, + third...)

best wishes for you!

[heidi_m]

Ok, now that I'm not nak I thought I'd chime in more because this is a somewhat passionate issue for me...

There are three main risk factors for GBS infecting a newborn:

1. If you go into labor and have or develop a fever.

2. If your water breaks and you don't deliver within I think 24 hours.

3. If you deliver before 37 weeks.

Roughly 1/3 of women will test positive for Group B Strep, and there is only a 10-20% chance that their babies will be born as a carrier of GBS and OF THAT, only 1-2% will actually develop an infection which can then be treated with antibiotics. Further, it's pretty easy to simply watch the baby and then treat him/her if necessary.

I am just really opposed to using abx when they aren't necessary, ESPECIALLY for a brand new precious baby!

Good luck

[flapjack]

Group B strep has been around for many, many, many years. Doctors only learnt to look for it a few years ago, and consequently, to bill insurance companies for administering antibiotics "just in case".
Just in case obstetrics leads to inappropriate use of fetal monitoring, interventions in straightforward normal labours and ultimately, the knife. Is this the route you wish to choose for your babe's entrance into the world?
There is no proof whatsoever that screening for GBS decreases mortality.