GBS +, no antibiotics, is s*x ok?

[Pilgrim]

I think my topic line says it all. I'm slightly past my EDD, and wouldn't be concerned at all except that I'm in a great deal of pain and would really like this baby to come!! So I was thinking of dtd with DH to help things along, but I'm concerned about my GBS+ status and don't want to push the germs further up. I am planning a homebirth with no antibiotics.

What do you think? Thanks very much!

[nashvillemidwife]

dtd? That one's not in the abbreviation list (though I get the gist).

[joyfuldoula]

Has your water broken?

[Pilgrim]

"do the deed"

no broken water. No sign of impending labor actually. I'd just like to give it an opportunity to get going!

eta: I also don't plan to do a hibicleanse wash either. I figure antibiotic is antibiotic. I want the baby to be innoculated with my good probiotics. I recently had a full GI check, and my ND said I had immaculate gut health and very good probiotics going on. It's a wonder that I am GBS+. Guess one is probiotic, the other is a virus?

[Arwyn]

Just for the record, you can say "sex" on MDC. We just don't want descriptions.

Intact fluids = I'd be OK with it.

(BTW, are you on Portland's Babywatch thread? I'm afraid I haven't been watching it closely enough to know. : )

[mwherbs]

ok so now how to answer without a description-- so here is the thing intestines are more of a home for GBS than the vagina- and possibly the source for vaginal colonization so anal sex is a stand alone event or after vaginal not before- washing and drying between- to prevent an increase in colonization

consider using live culture yogurt as a lube because acidic environment decreases GBS colonization and certain strains of live lactobacillus produce H2O2 that helps to get rid of lots of different critters including GBS--

orgasmic sex is better ; ) for all sorts of reasons but also because it triggers a change in the tissue congestion that exists with stimulation-- and decreases the chances of UTI ---

[nashvillemidwife]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

I also don't plan to do a hibicleanse wash either. I figure antibiotic is antibiotic. I want the baby to be innoculated with my good probiotics.

You might consider a hydrogen peroxide rinse. It's acidic so it restores the vaginal balance to its natural acidic state, hence restoring the balance of "good" and "bad" bacteria. Then, as mwherbs suggests, you can also apply probiotics or live culture yogurt directly into the vagina to speed recolonization of lactobacilli.

[nashvillemidwife]

By the way, that's my first line treatment for bacterial vaginosis.

[Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by Arwyn

Just for the record, you can say "sex" on MDC. We just don't want descriptions.

Intact fluids = I'd be OK with it.

(BTW, are you on Portland's Babywatch thread? I'm afraid I haven't been watching it closely enough to know. : )

Thanks for that! I figured it was okay, but then had this strange uncertainty about people googling "sex" and finding this thread. But goodness, why do I care? I've just got pregnant brain.

And yup, I am on the Portland babywatch thread. It's been pretty quiet there lately. Maybe I can give it some action soon (please, oh please!)

[Pilgrim]

Thanks to you other midwives too! Those are interesting things to think about and discuss with DH.