How many of you are GBS positive and how are you dealing with it?

[winginit]

Just wondering how many of you have tested positive for GBS and how you're dealing with it or going to deal with it in labor (if at all)?

I declined testing myself...so if my water breaks beforehand I may have some issues (yes..I'm still taking my Vit. C and Vit. E to keep it from breaking..I really hope it works).

[stephck]

I just did the test yesterday....if positive I'll take the few rounds of antibiotics during labor. I'm of the rather me than baby mentality

[LegalScrapper]

I had the test today. Since I'm delivering with a midwife at the hospital, I'll just take the antibiotics.

[sssarah]

I tested positive, and have been taking probiotics, echinacea and vit. C. I retested but haven't heard the results yet. I'm allergic to penicillin, so they're testing to see both how much there is, and also what other antibiotics it's sensitive too. If I go into labor before getting the results we'll probably use a chlorhexidine vaginal wash. I have a CNM midwife, so she can administer the antibiotics at home if I want, but I haven't decided yet.

[justme77]

I tested positive again and just left cvs w/ my Hibiclens. With DD, I took the stinking antibiotics (only because I went into labor b4 researching as much as I would have liked and I did not have my Hibiclens). Well, labor was so long - we ended up w/ like 3 bags of abx. And of course that led to the lovely introduction of thrush from day 5 of nursing. NOT FUN!!! I've read and re-read so much info on this and we decided we did not want anything to do with the antibiotics this time around. Our midwife even prefers/recommends the Hibiclens; but does offer abx if wanted.

[Azryel]

I was positive last time around, during my twin pregnancy, and consented to the antibiotics. I was pretty happy to be "allowed" to deliver in a normal room (versus the OR) without being "required" to have an epidural that I picked my battles and didn't bother with that one. Plus the twins were a little early (36 weeks -- but perfectly fine).

I just learned Monday that this time around I'm negative. Whoopee!!! Saves me from having to figure out what I would do this time around.

* Jaime

[VeganCupcake]

My midwife doesn't routinely test, and I declined it, but I've decided to operate on the assumption that I could be positive.

I'm taking oral grapefruit seed extract and then I'll take some oral probiotics. I've also done a round of vaginal suppositories of tea tree oil (4 nights) and then probiotics (1 night) and will repeat that next week if I'm still pregnant (and I probably still will be).

My midwife also carries Hibiclens and I might use that in my birthing time if I feel so inclined.

[alyssatuininga]

I am positive and my midwife has me doing a Hibbecleanse (sp?) wash (sort of like a douche) during labor. I will do it every 4 hours if my water breaks or just once right before pushing if my water hasn't broken yet. I MUCH prefer this to the idea of antibiotics (which I had with y last child). I have a high tendency to get thrush with new baby so I want to avoid antibiotics if possible. My midwife gave me a study that showed that this wash is just as effective as antibiotics.

[winginit]

What's in the hibiclens? Strangely enough I've never had a GBS positive client so I haven't had to look into this before, but I'd like a good arsenal just in case my water breaks prematurely!

[VeganCupcake]

Originally Posted by winginit

What's in the hibiclens? Strangely enough I've never had a GBS positive client so I haven't had to look into this before, but I'd like a good arsenal just in case my water breaks prematurely!

I think the active ingredient is chlorhexidine or something close to that.

[justme77]

Originally Posted by VeganCupcake

I think the active ingredient is chlorhexidine or something close to that.

Yup.

Here's the info on it. HIBICLENS

[dimibella]

I tested positive this time, and just ordered the hibiclens. My midwife also thinks it's just as effective. I'm hoping that even if I end up in the hospital, I won't have to do antibiotics.

[ccasanova]

sadly, I'm joining you ladies. I just got my results today and this is the first time in 5 pregnancies that I've been positive. Although I will most likely go the antibiotic route because there is no way DH will say no to the antibiotics, I would like to take the supp. to either help lower, or maybe, see if I can be retested, and end up negative before baby comes. I've got about 2 weeks maybe. Where can I find out on what to take and how much? I've got the Natural Pregnancy Book, but that's about it. I see that some are taking grapefruit seed extract, vit c, echinacea, etc. What should I take and how much?

[justme77]

Here is an awesome link (i think) that has some good hints or things to try. It also talks about the hibiclens solution....

http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/gbsAlt.html

[ccasanova]

ok, my head is hurting now after all the online research I've been doing on GBS, lol!

So basically, I know I'm going to start taking supplements, and buy the Hibiclens to have on hand when I'm in labor. Whether or not I go the antibiotic route, it can be another precaution. I'm going to see if my OB will be willing to retest me in a week or two. So I want to start doing the Hibiclens washing now to see if I can end up negative before birthing time starts. The only thing is that I've seen some say that it can be irritating. I'm pretty sensitive "down there" as it is and have to stay away from heavy perfumed soaps, etc, because I easily get irritations from them which usually will end up leading to yeast infections. So... because I don't want to end up with an infection or irritation from the Hibiclens, does anyone know what I can do to get the ph levels back to normal after doing a cleansing? I will be taking a lot of probiotics orally,so hopefully that will help somewhat but what about physically putting something in the vagina to get my levels back to normal? Would apple cider vinegar work? Putting yogurt in there? What flavor? Tee Hee! just kidding!

Thanks for any help! And again I'm so glad I know about this thread now!

[justme77]

Yup, I was going to suggest plain yogurt!! My m/w says one of the best ways to 'insert' it, is to use it as a lube while dtd. LOL. Good luck mamma.

[ccasanova]

has anyone heard about the partner needing to treat as well? I have full confidence that if my OB agrees to retest, I will be negative by doing all the supplements and washings. But I did read somewhere on the gentlebirth site I think that DH should cleanse also, because he could reintroduce the bacteria that I have gotten rid of by dtd. Is anyone going to go this far? I figured if I cleansed with something, maybe hydrogen peroxide or something, after dtd that could be enough? Hopefully the OB will agree to a retest! And I have even bigger hopes that DH will feel comfortable going antibiotic free if I am tested negative!!! He is a big time conventional medicine guy. He wanted the doc to put me on antibiotics already through birthing time to be sure that stuff would be gone. Or have doc break my water before labor starts so they can start antibiotics right away! Ugh!!! Can you imagine??? Little babies body pumped full of antibiotics for weeks??? Breaking my water, which I have heard is not what you want to do if GBS positive??? I'm going to have to calmly explain to dh what I've read. It's so true that fear gives way to losing common sense and doing crazy things!

[honeybee]

Originally Posted by ccasanova

sadly, I'm joining you ladies. I just got my results today and this is the first time in 5 pregnancies that I've been positive. Although I will most likely go the antibiotic route because there is no way DH will say no to the antibiotics, I would like to take the supp. to either help lower, or maybe, see if I can be retested, and end up negative before baby comes. I've got about 2 weeks maybe. Where can I find out on what to take and how much? I've got the Natural Pregnancy Book, but that's about it. I see that some are taking grapefruit seed extract, vit c, echinacea, etc. What should I take and how much?

It's your body, your choice... when your dh gives birth and bf, he can decide whether or not to risk thrush...

Please choose whatever YOU think is best... there's no one right decision, everything is a matter of balancing different risks, but it really should be your decision, and not about what any other person will "allow" you to do.

[winginit]

I talked to my midwife about the Hibiclens...and she'd never heard of it! I guess in Canada the midwives are pretty regulated and if you do test positive for GBS they HAVE TO suggest you go the antibiotic route. Of course, it's the woman's final say on whether to do it or not, but they really can't offer up alternatives (such as the Hibiclens). However, I'm passing the information on to her and hoping that it is actually here at our pharmacy. Like I said, I didn't test for GBS, and I'm on this Vit. E/Vit. C protocol for keeping the waters intact, but just in case I'd like to have something!!

[ccasanova]

Originally Posted by alyssatuininga

My midwife gave me a study that showed that this wash is just as effective as antibiotics.

Do you know if this study is available online? I'd love to have it and read it so that when I bring up the subject with my OB next visit I will look and be well informed.