GBS test...

[Shelsi]

I know we had another thread about this. Anyways I gotta decide if I want to test or not. Of course it's supposed to be dh and I deciding. However he hasn't read any of the info the mw's gave except for about 2 paragraphs last night after I got angry at him. He sat there and "read" it for like 5 mins then put it down and said he didn't understand it (it's an easy to read article, he's a smart guy, I'm not buying it) and said to just do whatever I want to do :

So I think I know what I want to do but I like to bounce ideas off people and since my dh is being a butt I thought I would post on here.

So I have a few different choices but these are the ones I've narrowed it down to. I am basically choosing whether or not to test.

I can A) do a hibiclense rinse during this week and then test at my next prenatal.

1) If it's positive then I would continue to use the hibicleanse throughout the pregnancy and a few times during labor.

2) If it's negative, I think that's all I have to do and we might do a hibiclense during labor just to be on the safe side but that's it.

B) Not test and do the hibiclense for the rest of the pregnancy just in case I am positive (I was positive with ds btw) and do it during labor as well.


I like the idea of testing just so I know if I should be more cautious in looking for signs in the baby. Also I figured if I have to transfer that I wouldn't have to fight with them over antibiotics if I am negative...whereas I know if I haven't tested they will assume positive and push the antibiotics. So what do you ladies think?

[DoulaClara]

Rachel,

Part of what helped me in my decision-making process was that my midwives gave me the swab and I did the test to myself (I believe another poster did this as well!) I had been taking probiotics for weeks leading up to the test. I was fairly confident that I would test negative, and I did. Would I have tested if they had to do the swab? Possibly not- just because my own personal views about my birth and my pregnant body circle around autonomy. It's valuable for me to not have something simply "done to me."

I would also think some more about the transfer issue. If it did become necessary to transfer, how successful/unsuccessful do you think you will be with any of your birth decisions being honored at the hospital? Will your DH advocate for the things you have already agreed upon as being your hard and fast definites? I can see hospitals being extremely persuasive, and in a situation involving a transfer, tension will no doubt already be high.

Your DH may be at the "oversaturated and anxious" phase that a lot of our DHs and DPs are hitting. I wonder if you simplified it for him and said, "Here are the numbers... here are the pros... here are the cons..." if it would help him decide a little easier? It may come down to you needing to make this decision for yourself. How would DH react to that?

Clara

[Shelsi]

Originally Posted by DoulaClara

Your DH may be at the "oversaturated and anxious" phase that a lot of our DHs and DPs are hitting. I wonder if you simplified it for him and said, "Here are the numbers... here are the pros... here are the cons..." if it would help him decide a little easier? It may come down to you needing to make this decision for yourself. How would DH react to that?

Clara

He would just go along with it like he always does. And I guess that's what I find irritating. I feel like I make all the parenting decisions including the really big ones that could have a serious and/or fatal effect on our kids. Vaxing is a really good example. I started researching. I gave him articles to read and links to check out which he never did read. I decided I didn't want to vax anymore and he said, "ok, I'm sure you wouldn't do anything to hurt our kid." Which of course, no I wouldn't, but the point is that it's not black and white and I could make the wrong decision regarding these things and it should be something we both discuss and agree upon. Sometimes I worry Jake will get some disease that could have been prevented and die and dh will never forgive me because I made the decision not to vax. Of course he made the decision to just go along with me but of course it will be easier for him to blame me. I know, I know, morbid thoughts! I guess we're all going a little crazy at the end here, huh?

As for transferring, if I were GBS positive I really don't mind getting the antibiotics, but I don't want them if I am negative. Honestly if my mw's were comfortable with it and could obtain them I would do the IV antibiotics at home if I were GBS positive. I had them last time with no ill effects on either me or Jake. I've never had yeast issues or allergy issues with them so I don't mind having them.

I'm fairly certain I do the swab myself although I didn't ask. I do everything else myself and they have yet to see me naked and don't even do VE's even while in labor unless they feel something might be going on and it would help them figure out what was wrong or delaying things or whatever.

[~Demeter~]

Rachel,
My dh and I have a similar thing going on in our relationship. I'm the educated one and he just goes along with what I say. It does get frustrating especially when you aren't 100% about something and need some feedback.

That said I did the GBS test (it came back negative). I honestly didn't have a big issue with abx in labor, I didn't want them but would have accepted them if my doctor felt they were necessary. This was the only test that my doctor seemed to feel was necessary. He didn't push me to do the glucose test or any of the other silly things out there. I felt it was such a simple thing for me to comply. I've read the literature out there about it and it left me rather undecided. You have to do what makes you comfortable.

[ahdoula]

I was the other pp that swabed myself. I decided if I didn't test I would just be worried about it the whole time, and if I tested and came back negative I would be glad I did it and if I was postivie, I would just cross that brige when I came to it. So I tested and I was negative, and sure enough-I am glad I tested!

[marziechar]

Yeah, I swabbed myself, too.

We decided (though, I do have to say, my husband is just as frustrating to bounce ideas off of at this point, too ) that there was no reason NOT to do the test. You should definitely know.

I've been highly against IVs during labor (considering I'm not high risk--I would have a different opinion otherwise) for the simple fact that IV fluid adds more fluid to your TBV (total blood volume) making it harder for your body to regulate water, salt, hormones in your blood. All this making it impossible for you to have a natural normallabor.

I would, however, do the Chlorohexidine flush if I do turn out positive for GBS. I'm not entirely comfortable with any chemical that close to my baby, but it's just what we decided we'd do....It's the lesser of the evils right now, and it has good results...

[LISSA~K]

I took the test (negative luckily) because my Aunt passed strep to her newborn who ended up in the hospital. That has sufficiently scared me into taking it 3 times now