Group B Strep screen???

[littlemomma]

What are you fellow mamas planning to do? I'm sure that I had the screen with DS. I just did whatever "they" said during that pregnancy (I was 20......). I've been looking at the numbers the research tells us and I'm really on the fence. I hate to "play the numbers game," but then again, I don't want an IV and I want my homebirth (of course, not at the cost of safety). To think that 20-30% of us will test positive makes me think that it could easily be me. Are you getting screened? I'm on the fence between getting screened to know if I am mild, moderate, or severely colonized (which, in the case of severe I may give antibiotics more thought) or just not getting screened and if I develop any of the risk factors (fever, PROM, etc) go in for antibiotics.

Any other ideas on how to deal with this choice? I'd love to hear your plans.

[Spark]

I choose not to be tested. I feel that the choices I make surround birth and delivery promotes a healthy outcome.

[witchbaby]

i've chosen not to be tested as well.

[MinnieMouse]

I wasn't tested when pregnant with Bethany. The birth center I go to followed the ACOG recommendation to not test everyone and only administer antibiotics to those moms w/ prolonged ruptured membranes or one w/ a fever.

But the ACOG changed their recommendation a couple of years ago to test everyone and the birth center had to change too (for insurance reasons). Their policy is to allow you to skip the test, but then you have to stay there a minimum of 12hrs for "observation" of the baby...which is the same policy for those that test + and refuse the antibiotics.

So, I am opting to take the test...because if I am positive...I either take the antibiotics or stay 12+hrs....if I don't take the test...I have the same choices. BUT.. If I take it and I'm negative...then I don't have to worry at all.

HTH

[DesireeH]

I tested negative with Jevin but I dont think I will get tested this time. I do not want antibiotics. On top of that, the research I have read shows there is no difference in the outcome of babies who are watched closely at birth (if the mother has a fever or ruptured membranes for more than 18 hours) than mothers who were given antibiotics in labor.

[selazenby]

I'm not being tested - but for a different reason. I will be treated with IV antibiotics either way. I have a heart condition that makes it necessary (I also have to have antibiotics to get dental work done). Also, I was tested last time and was positive. (Also, my membranes were ruptured for about 40 hours before birth.) But, littlemomma, it does not not not have to affect your plans for a homebirth even if you were to require treatment. I had a hep lock and got a 10 minute drip of antibiotcs every 4 hours during labor - actually I think I had it a total of 3 times. The hep lock can get wet so it didn't affect my laboring in the tub, and I just had to be "still" for 10 mins every 4 hours while the drip was going in. I loaded up on acidopholus to avoid any yeasty, thrushy stuff and had no problem. Of course, having any antibiotics is never my preference for me or my children, but in this case it was the best thing for me so I did it - and all in all it did not affect my birth experience at all.

[littlemomma]

Thanks for your responses. Selanzby, my midwife who will be attending my homebirth (CPM) told me that if I chose antibiotics, I'd have to use the hospital route...I think that is what she said. Does this seem wrong to you? Do CPMs traditionally offer antibiotics? Maybe it has to do with getting the prescription- they can't write them, can they?

[littleteapot]

Declined the first time, and won't do it this time either.

[selazenby]

littlemomma - I truly don't know if a CPM can write the prescription for the antibiotics, but I assume someone else could and she could adminsiter? I could be wrong though. My midwife is a LM. It just seems to me that there is no reason that you'd have to be in the hospital to get antibiotics - I mean lord, they're prescribed a gazillion times a day unfortunately. Talk to her more about it. And there are other options:

(the following is from The Natural Pregnancy Book)
-500 mg of vit C and 1 cup of burdock root and echinacea root infusion
-eat lots of fresh garlic
-take 1/2 teaspoon each of echinacea root and astragalus tinctures twice daily
-daily rinse your vaginal and perineal area with a peri-bottle of herbal infusion and essential oil (let me know if you want the specifics on this one)
-after 37 weeks (and if water is not broken) insert one capsule of goldenseal into your upper vaginal canal each night before bed - goldenseal is a natural antibiotic

Did your midwife say that she cannot attend you at home if you are GBS+ or just if you choose to go the antibiotic route?

[Spark]

Public Service Announcement: If you take antibiotics please remember to be good to your good flora. Acidophilus/Bifidophilus capsules/yogurt/etc can help. With antibiotics you're at a higher risk for developing thrush. :( Not so fun!

[DesireeH]

My midwife is an LM and she said she could do the antibiotics........ I still rather not even be tested though.

[kir]

Can someone tell me what the Group B Strep Screen is? Sorry, I'm so clueless! Is it something they're going to test for at the time of delivery, or earlier? Does it only matter if I have ruptured membranes and am laboring for a long time? Pls let me know...I'm so clueless!

Kiran

[mama kate]

(I'll probably get flamed for this but oh well)
I would definately get tested as late in to pg as possible like at your 38/39 week app't. with that being said just like with any test your test results can have false negatives & positives - Like I did - I tested negative. Having a baby born gbs positive is a scary thing - My membranes weren't broken excessively long either - it just happened - Emma was born via c-sec as well after her :heartbeat dropped in to the 40's & wouldn't come up with rest or positional changes.
Every person has to make their own choice but I would research like crazy. I was VERY lucky to have a proactive pediatrician who petentially saved us from tons of heartache.
Whatever you choose read both sides of research weigh the pros & cons of both getting tested & not - Its a simply test. My pregnancy & labor was very low intervention - I had a fab OB (DH couldn't be convinced of a HB & now - for us I'm glad.) I would hate to see someone who does test positive avoid a treatment that is in most respects pretty non-invasive. (As long as you can still move around I consider it pretty low-tech)

[*Amy*]

Mama Kate, it's not necessarily whether the procedure is invasive or not that creates concern for me. After reading several articles on the issue, it appears that the controversy surrounds whether antibiotics are actually effective or whether they just make the situation worse by creating resistant strains of GBS, while inhibiting the growth of "good" bacteria in the baby's digestive tract AND also potentially allowing the growth of antibiotic-resistant E.Coli, which can be just as fatal, if not moreso, than GBS. (Major run-on sentence; sorry.)

You are right - researching the issue is key, and I agree that testing as late as possible is definitely a good idea.

[selazenby]

I just wanted to mention too that - as already said - the test itself is super simple / non-invasive. It's the treatment that is worrisome. But, keep in mind that in many places, if you have to transfer to a hospital for any reason and you haven't had the test, they will assume you are postive and want to treat accordingly. The most likely scenerio is that you have the test and the result is negative (especially if you do all the good probiotic stuff leading up to test time), then it would take all the worry out of it. With GBS, you can be positive one day and negative the next - depending on what's going on with your system at any given time.