Garlic for Group B Strep?

[sunkist33]

At my next appt. (in about 2 weeks), my midwife will do the group B screening & she said to eat a lot of garlic. I tested pos. with dd #1 and I'm really *hoping* to test - for this one...I really do not want the IV antibiotics.
Anyways, I'm sort of reading up on the garlic & most sites say that fresh, raw, crushed garlic is better than the supplements. Does anyone know if it's just as effective cooked (DH uses a lot of garlic in his recipes)?
And has anyone actually put garlic up their *yoni*? How does that work?

I also plan on upping the vitamin C & probiotics/ yogurt, etc. Is there anything else I can do? Any advice?

[Teenytoona]

Originally Posted by sunkist33

At my next appt. (in about 2 weeks), my midwife will do the group B screening & she said to eat a lot of garlic. I tested pos. with dd #1 and I'm really *hoping* to test - for this one...I really do not want the IV antibiotics.
Anyways, I'm sort of reading up on the garlic & most sites say that fresh, raw, crushed garlic is better than the supplements. Does anyone know if it's just as effective cooked (DH uses a lot of garlic in his recipes)?
And has anyone actually put garlic up their *yoni*? How does that work?

I also plan on upping the vitamin C & probiotics/ yogurt, etc. Is there anything else I can do? Any advice?

I've not done garlic in the Yoni for strep, but I have for yeast. This is what I've done, two different ways.

1. Get a nice sized garlic clove, peel it carefully (no nicks). Wrap in in a piece of gauze, and tie a string of unwaxed dental floss around it to close it off and act as a remover. Pop it in overnight and pull it out in the mornings.

2. Get a nice sized garlic clove, peel it carefully (no nicks). Pop it in overnight and yank it out in the morning.

For a YI I would wear them for 3 days or so. I think I would do the gauze/string method during pregnancy becuase it seems like the cervix goes into retreat mode, and I think it would be easiest to remove.

Otherwise, that's all the info I have to answer your questions. I'm sure someone more informed than I can give you more info.

[Mindi22]

I read another thread where someone forgot the string, or it came off or something and she had garlic that she couldn't get out for quite some time... so don't forget the removal thread!!!

[TrishWSU]

I've used garlic for BV before-non-preggo, just popped the clove in overnight. But good point about the cervix gone missing during pregnancy! Due a search for this over in the Unassisted Childbirth area, it seems to come up a lot.

FWIW, your GBS status at this point doesn't really make a difference as it can change between now and birth. It's generally a test you can opt out of if you want. Also, it is not necessary to get the antibotics in labor. If you do not have any of the warning signs of an actual GBS infection {waters broken for longer than 24 hours, fever during labor, pre-term labor} getting the antibotics can be pointless and actually harmful.

[LoveChild421]

My midwife said they usually test for GBS at 36 weeks. She suggested to wear a clove of garlic vaginally for 5-6 nights starting at 34 weeks and then stop. Then insert a probiotic capsule vaginally for 5-6 nights before the test as well as taking lots of probiotics by mouth as well. I'm not so sure about the garlic, I've tried it before and it just burned like crazy, I didn't knick the clove or anything I just think my vagina does not like garlic!