Group B Strep (GBS) Information and Resources

[BellyBelly]

Been told you have GBS or curious to find out about it? Find out here with some great resources, advice and research into GBS.

http://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums/...ay-133777.html

The war on group B strep

Group B Strep: what you need to know | Gloria Lemay

Taking antibiotics can also lead to thrush, vaginal yeast and severe colic in the months after birth. There is some indication that antibiotic use can lead to Vitamin K deficiencies in the baby.

The woman’s body could build up a resistance to the antibiotics and so could her baby’s body. Then if either got a more serious infection after the birth, the antibiotics might be ineffective.

How to Treat a Vaginal Infection with a Clove of Garlic - by Judy Slome Cohain, CNM

Understanding Group B Streptococcus

PREVENTION

* Breastfeed immediately and frequently. Colostrum is full of antibodies that strengthen the baby's immune system.
* Refuse vaginal exams [increase risk of bacteria introduction]
* Avoid internal fetal monitoring
* Refuse membrane stripping or sweeping
* Avoid induction of labor or application of cervical ripeners
* Do not permit artificial rupture of membranes.

Empowering Birth Blog: Thoughts on Group B Strep

Group B Strep and home birth

Intrapartum antibiotics for known maternal Group B streptococcal colonization - The Cochrane Library - Ohlsson - Wiley Online Library

Maternal colonization with group B streptococcus (GBS) during pregnancy increases the risk of neonatal infection by vertical transmission. Administration of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) during labor has been associated with a reduction in early onset GBS disease (EOGBSD). However, treating all colonized women during labor exposes a large number of women and infants to possible adverse effects without benefit.

This review finds that giving antibiotics is not supported by conclusive evidence. The review identified four trials involving 852 GBS positive women. Three trials, which were around 20 years old, compared ampicillin or penicillin to no treatment and found no clear differences in newborn deaths although the occurrence of early GBS infection in the newborn was reduced with antibiotics. The antibiotics ampicillin and penicillin were no different from each other in one trial with 352 GBS positive women. All cases of perinatal GBS infections are unlikely to be prevented even if an effective vaccine is developed.

http://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums/...ep-178024.html

[BrightSparkles]

I was told i had this... wait for it.... 2 days before I had DD2!! A bright orange sticker on my file still didn't alert anyone to the fact they hadn't told me anything. I wish i had a chance to be more informed of this before I had her.

[RhiChiChi]

My OBS doesn't test for Strep B - said it is pointless b/c today you may test positive, tomorrow you won't..... Also, the point about thrush & the likes - happened to my gf. She tested positive, had a very long labour and suffered with thrush for months after her DS was born due to being on antibiotics constantly throughout labour

[BellyBelly]

My Ob was the same. Strep B is transient, just like a strep infection in your throat. He said he'd only give ab's if the baby was high risk - premature etc - but also said he could pick the infection up in new babies as they had a distinct smell. Just sayin what he said