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

[smirlynwittles]

There is a book (Natural Pregnancy??) by Aviva Jill Romm that suggests methods of preventing Group B Strep (probiotics, garlic, some herbal baths, etc...). I did the preventative measures and then got the test which was negative...

[carriedaway]

since i didn't want to take antibiotics, i declined the test and took acidophilous to help prevent it at my mw's recommendation. i worried about it for awhile, but my baby was born very healthy and i'm glad i did what i did.

carrie

[littlemomma]

Yes, I'm looking into nonantibiotic treatments instead of antibiotics (if I was positive). When you say acidophilous , do you just mean you ate a bunch of yougurt or or there something particular you did or bought? What other preventative or reduction meausures have you all taken? Thanks!

[ZanZansMommy]

You can just take acidophilus capsules in addition to yogurt. Most health food stores carry them. I keep mine in the refrigerator. Oh & I chose not to get screened.

[MamaTaraX]

I've done the Group B screen both times howeverIdidn't really need to... Notbecause they came up negative but because I took antibiotics for something else in labor anyway, so assuming prophylactic abx work liek they're supposed to, we were already covered. I'm debating not doing the abx this time butI'm on the fence (again, this has nothing to do with GBS...I'll probably decline it this time actually, though if I do it,I'll do it myself again like I did last time)

Namaste, Tara
mama to Doodle (7), Butterfly (2), and Rythm (due at home 1/06)

[alegna]

I didn't do it because I wouldn't have done antibiotics anyway.

-Angela