GBS & CHlorhexidine

[Artechim]

It can be used during labour as a vaginal wash to reduce the chance of transmission of GBS. It is a common treatment in Europe as an alternative to antibiotics. It can also be used prior to a GBS swab to ensure a negative result.

[Rhiankadi]

It can be used during labour as a vaginal wash to reduce the chance of transmission of GBS. It is a common treatment in Europe as an alternative to antibiotics. It can also be used prior to a GBS swab to ensure a negative result.

I tested positive to gbs, I'm not retrying to make it a negative with chlorhexidine but want to use it to wash to ensure its a negative during labour. I'm taking vitamin c, probiotics, garlic tablets and using garlic inserts until labour.

I'm not 100% sold on the antibiotic thing, I've always had side effects from using them, mainly just trush and sore nipples and I'd rather avoid it if possible considering I want my nether regions to heal without irritation and to be able to breastfeed. I've read study after study after study about the risks and benefits, I'm actually more concerned by the fact that if I'm given antibiotics when I'm gbs negative or even if I am positive but the baby is in the rather large percentage of bubs who don't contract it that they would be more susceptable to illness' with immunity to antibiotics such as E. coli. I've also wondered about late onset gbs.

also what if he antibiotics dont work in labour and the early onset gbs theyre concerned about has built some immunity to the antibiotics? I know the hospital will treat me as positive even if I test negative the second time but I figure even if I really need the antibiotics then the chlorhexidine wash can't hurt and would presumably lower the risk of contraction even further in the many cases it misses. Although I intend to discuss this will my healthcare team this week, ill probably decline antibiotics unless my waters have been gone for around 12 hours or more or if I have a fever in labour.

Please don't think I'm taking this lightly. I've done my reading, I'm not relying on chlorhexidine alone.
Anyone else know if microshield/avaguard are acceptable alternatives? Also I've found Baxter which the ingredients are

Active Ingredients

Chlorhexidine Acetate

2

Inactive Ingredients

Methylene Blue Glacial

Acetic Acid

Water for Injections

[Artechim]

I actually assumed you had done a fair bit of reading to have the idea

I have had three children and have not had a GBS swab for any. It was never suggested by any of my health care providers, including hospital in Australia and then separate midwives in NZ. I asked my midwife when I was pregnant with my second child and she had been a midwife for 20 years and had not tested a single time. She said that if there was a prolonged ruptured membranes/other risk factors then they would act accordingly, but giving the ABs during labour as a precaution was more trouble than it was worth (more chance of a reaction from mum than bub contracting GBS).

I would ask for another test anyway, hopefully the garlic has done its thing. As a tip, add some yoghurt to the mix after garlic - in my experience it seems to kill everything and you need to recolonize.

I would be looking for the irrigation washes - the ones you have listed contain other ingredients that may irritate. Google Superior health care, they have a bottle of what you want.

Good luck, try not to stress too much about it xx