*Sigh* GBS + and my OB is irking me.

[thefreckledmama]

So at my appt. today, my OB tells me I'm GBS +. Gives me the whole talk about "IV antibiotics in labor,...blah, blah, blah."

Then she goes on to say that we need to discuss the possibility of me not giving birth at the hospital I chose to, because of the "possibility" that the baby will need "extra care and monitoring".

The hospital I have chosen is new (opened in 07), and very calm, and has pediatric specialists on staff and present at all times. It's small, and lacks the "baby factory" feel of the alternative hospital (hundreds of births per month vs. tens)...which I DO NOT want to deliver at (my sister was told last spring that the baby couldn't room in over night because she could choke and die during the night). What really gets me, is that I feel like she's setting the stage for forced "observation" time in the nursery regardless of where I deliver and throwing all my choices about the birth and care of the baby out the window.

I know that I'm probably being overly sensitive because I am so close and my hormones are all wonky, but it just seems so unfair, because both of my previous births were highly interventional, because I didn't really research anything, and this time around I have been so meticulous about making every single decision based on facts and not just what my OB tells me, and I just feel like it doesn't even matter.

Anyway, I guess I just needed to unload to a group of women who would understand my frustration, opposed to my friends and family who don't understand why I wouldn't just do "whatever my doctor says" because they're "the experts."

[Mama2-4]

I totally understand where you are coming from. I was gbs + with ds1 and - with ds2. I had my test last week and did tons of remedies to hopefully test - again...we will find out Friday!

Anyway, I empathize with your situation. All of the testing (damned if you do and damned if you don't) take a natural process and make it into a medical nightmare of worriesome possible outcomes! I was told if I opted out of the test then my poor baby would have to endure many heelsticks over 48 hours to test for problems and we would not be able to leave the hospital until the 48 hour observation period had ceased. It is so frustrating...so it leaves me the option to of course get tested and if positive subject myself to most likely unecessary antibiotics, or the previous mentioned. Errrrr....

I hope that you can deliver in your hospital of choice and wish you luck with this situation. (Since this is my 4th baby I and the hospital is 50 minutes away I am hoping to have an accidental birth at home and avoid all of it!)

[SamuraiMom]

I only know very little about GBS, so far a am refusing the test, because of the statistics told to me by my MW just weren't enough for me to do it. If you should test pos. for GBS, then there is a wash you can use during labor to clear your birth canal of bacteria. If your baby should contract GBS during birth, it is something like 1 baby in 100 whose mama's have GBS that will actually contract it, and then 1 in 100 of those babies who will get really sick from GBS. Sorry my info is so vague, all of my info is in my kitchen and I'm in bed. I am sure someone else can elaborate on what little I know. Just arm yourself with knowledge before your birth so that you can be a part of the decision making process when you are in the hospital.


Oh, and eat a tone of garlic between now and then! Raw garlic!

[LawrenceDoula]

You are not being oversensitive! Trust your instincts and knowledge about this. If you are uncomfortable with what you are being told you have every right to do something about it. It is YOUR choice. Don't feel guilty about making up your own mind!

[LoveChild421]

Originally Posted by Kalopsia

So at my appt. today, my OB tells me I'm GBS +. Gives me the whole talk about "IV antibiotics in labor,...blah, blah, blah."

Then she goes on to say that we need to discuss the possibility of me not giving birth at the hospital I chose to, because of the "possibility" that the baby will need "extra care and monitoring".

If the whole reason you get IV antibiotics is to prevent complications, it doesn't make sense to assume that complications will happen. I would stand firm in my decision if I were you and tell her that we can discuss the possibility of transfering to the other hospital if the baby starts showing signs of GBS (which is highly unlikely given the fact that you will be getting abx). It isn't as if GBS is something that can't be treated at any hospital- it isn't like a rare heart condition or something you would need lots of specialists for.

[sarahn4639]

I agree, just be firm in what you want. IT IS YOUR DECISION She can't force you to do somthing. She can argue with you but your care is up to you. Just keep telling yourself tht over and over, it can be really hard to stand up to people our society views as "authority figures". You could try a few natural remedy sorts of things and then demand being retested at 38 weeks or something and try to get a negative to avoid all that. But I would NOT agree to another hospital you don't want for something like GBS. I hope this all works out well for you. Remember you have choices and you get to make the decisions about your care. Be strong mama!

[Dea]

Originally Posted by SamuraiMom

I only know very little about GBS, so far a am refusing the test, because of the statistics told to me by my MW just weren't enough for me to do it. If you should test pos. for GBS, then there is a wash you can use during labor to clear your birth canal of bacteria. If your baby should contract GBS during birth, it is something like 1 baby in 100 whose mama's have GBS that will actually contract it, and then 1 in 100 of those babies who will get really sick from GBS. Sorry my info is so vague, all of my info is in my kitchen and I'm in bed. I am sure someone else can elaborate on what little I know. Just arm yourself with knowledge before your birth so that you can be a part of the decision making process when you are in the hospital.


Oh, and eat a tone of garlic between now and then! Raw garlic!

So from what I understand about GBS is that it's serious, but a long shot. 50% of babies who contract it, or get sick from it die. HOWEVER the chance of your baby getting is 1 in 13000 (and change) so really 1 in 26000 births results in a seriously ill baby. That being said I've read that 1 in 10000 people have reactions to the antibiotics.
I have some issues with these numbers though. Is the 1 in 13000 of all births? (I think it is) So it's not a good number to rely on, it's propaganda, and the 1 in 10000 is the number of people overall who have reactions to penicillin, which is comparing apples to oranges, if it were the number of people who were GBS positive and had issues with the anitbiotics then it would make sense.
Now that all being said only 30% of women test positive, and only about 5% of women who are tested and are of the home birthing variety are positive. (I say home birthing variety I mean those who understand that garlic helps, pro biotics help, etc etc, and I think everyone here qualifies as that)
And in addition to all of this GBS comes and goes, you can be positive today and not tomorrow. But they do the test early because according to my OB the quick test isn't as accurate, and I guess doctors don't see the harm in treating you with antibiotics for no reason.
My midwife explained to me that if I am positive (I get tested tomorrow, whoot whoot) we can wait and see what other symptoms I have during labour, like a fever, then she can give me an intra muscular shot of antibiotics, this hasn't been proven as effective as IV antibiotics though.
The link about the vaginal wash I saw on another thread is here.
http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/gbs.html#Lavage

Kalopsia I think your OB is a fear monger. It's totally unfair that s/he is trying to scare you like that. I say do a google search, look for articles that are backed by journals, not just heresay and arm yourself with info.
And take lots of pro biotics and yoghurt!

[Mama2-4]

Originally Posted by SamuraiMom

I only know very little about GBS, so far a am refusing the test, because of the statistics told to me by my MW just weren't enough for me to do it. If you should test pos. for GBS, then there is a wash you can use during labor to clear your birth canal of bacteria. If your baby should contract GBS during birth, it is something like 1 baby in 100 whose mama's have GBS that will actually contract it, and then 1 in 100 of those babies who will get really sick from GBS. Sorry my info is so vague, all of my info is in my kitchen and I'm in bed. I am sure someone else can elaborate on what little I know. Just arm yourself with knowledge before your birth so that you can be a part of the decision making process when you are in the hospital.


Oh, and eat a tone of garlic between now and then! Raw garlic!

You are correct, the statistics are vague and minimal. I am sure however that almost all hospitals, if you refuse the test, are going to treat you like you are positive and require blood tests and observation of infant for 48 hours. So if you were planning on an early discharge it will not happen unless you leave AMA in which case your insurance may not cover the birth.

I know this from experience with my personal pregnancies and also from experience as a labor and delivery nurse working in many different institutions.

[AlwaysByMySide]

I was GBS+ with DD1, and she never had to endure observation or testing because of it. I had the abx during labor, and that was that.

I go for my GBS test this week. My midwife has already told me that abx can be given via a heplock, and that they don't require being hooked up to an IV the whole time, so I'm wondering why your OB doesn't feel the same way.

As far as your hospital choice, guess what? Unless your OB is planning on driving you to the hospital when you are in labor, you can go to whatever hospital you want. You don't need her approval. I bet that someone at either hospital will be happy to catch the baby for you.

If they try to force nursery time, you can always sign yourself out AMA. But I agree that it would be much easier if your provider would just get on board with your plan.

[Mama2-4]

Originally Posted by AlwaysByMySide

I was GBS+ with DD1, and she never had to endure observation or testing because of it. I had the abx during labor, and that was that.

If you comply with the abx protocol you would not have to go through the testing and observation. It is only if you refuse the abx. They also usually want you to receive 2 does of abx, usually ampicillin 2 grams loading dose and then 1 gram every 4 hours until delivery. If you do not get these doese your baby is subject to testing and observation.....so this means you have to plan on spending a good deal of time laboring in the hospital.

Now, some pediatricians will bend on the rules, but you have to clairfy that with them. Some may say you can leave the hospital before 48 hours but they want to see you in the office the next day.

[Theia]

GBS+ Natural Remedies

I'm sorry to hear that your OB is trying to push you into giving birth somewhere that you don't want.

I just found out today that I am also GBS+. My MW is not overly concerned as I am only 35 weeks, but I have been having very light spotting over the past week and she wants me to try a few natural remedies. She suggested Aviva Romm's book, The Natural Pregnancy Book. I love this book, btw. In it she gives several natural remedies for GBS+. I am taking echinacea root, burdock root, and astragulas tinctures (these can also be taken as infusions). She recommends adding 500mg Vit C to your diet. And there is a recipe for sitz bath. It is also recommended to eat lots of fresh garlic (uncooked) every day, she lists several options for that as well. If you can't find a copy of the book, I would be glad to provide you specifics about any of the remedies. Just PM me or something, there are several choices here.

Good luck with this, I totally believe that you can treat this before you give birth and not be risked out of the nice hospital of your choice.