To test or not to test? : Natural Childbirth

Mon Nov 02, 2009 10:07 am

Could I get some input about GBS testing? My midwife gave me some info at the last appointment to read over about it. One pamphlet was from the hospital and said basically, you get tested and if you're positve you get antibiotics in labour. The other pamphlet was from the midwives' clinic and said, you can choose to get tested and if you're positive you can choose to get treated. This is one of the many reasons why I love my midwives - they don't force anything on you or assume decisions for you.

However, I'm left wondering what the best course of action is. I will be giving birth in the hospital, but I'm hoping to labour at home for as long as possible and leave afterward as soon as possible. If I tested positive it would mean spending much of my labour in the hospital and if I gave birth sooner than 4 hrs after receiving the antibiotics, I'd have to stay there with the baby for 48 hrs for testing.

WDYT? Is it selfish and irresponsible not to test and assume everything's ok, just so I can spend more time at home?

Mon Nov 02, 2009 10:43 am

Here's some reading about the benefits (or lack there of; your decision) about routine antibiotics. (as a reminder, you could test positive at one point in pregnancy, but test negative at another. And you could be positive rectally but not vaginally)

The medical opinion: http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/groupbstrepinfection.html

Research on antibiotics given during labor (it's not what you think!): http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab007467.html

BUT, there's always an opinion to counter every study and this one's valid: http://www.scienceandsensibility.org/?p=358

The Natural Childbirthers opinions, with alternatives to antibiotics and treatments: http://www.givingbirthnaturally.com/group-b-streptococcus.html

And another treatment option: http://navelgazingmidwife.squarespace.com/navelgazing-midwife-blog/2009/9/6/hibiclens-discussion-for-gbs-women.html

Irresponsible? Eh, I don't know if irresponsible is the right word. It's a decision with no right or wrong answer. You need to do whats best for you. Read the above links and decide if you feel the medical evidence supports testing in your situation.

FWIW, I refused all pregnancy testing, including GBS.

Mon Nov 02, 2009 11:27 am

I know that my hospital wouldn't let me leave without being tested and getting the results back so you might have to check with your hospital on their policies.

Mon Nov 02, 2009 9:32 pm

Well, I think it is hit or miss. You get tested at 36 weeks and you could test positive, but be negative at the birth....or, you could test negative and be positive at the birth. I say start taking the precautions to be negative and follow through throughout the end of your pregnancy....then you avoid the issue all together. Just my thoughts....I would hate to have to mess with the antibiotics. Not sure if I would have liked that extra intervention.

Tue Nov 03, 2009 9:54 am

Thanks for all the info, Brie. Those links were very helpful.

Can anyone recommend any of the natural remedies? Have you tried anything with success?

Wed Nov 04, 2009 8:36 am

I tested positive for GBS and I did home birth. I did not really want the extra intervention, but it was important to me that I did not pass anything harmful to the baby. I would think that you could still labor at home with the antibiotics and they could transport you to the hospital that way. Just a personal opinion..for the baby's health I would get tested. You never know what may happen. It may not have any affect, but it could.
Here are some facts that I found:
GBS can cause bladder infections
and womb infections for the mother. In some cases GBS can cause stillbirth.
Newborns can get meningitis, sepsis, and pneumonia.

Approximately 1 of every 100-200 babies
who are born to mothers who carry GBS will become ill.
There are certain
herbal methods that you can take 2-3 weeks before delivery that a
midwife or homeopathic physician can provide for you.

Hope this helps!

Thu Nov 05, 2009 12:09 am

adding a link for you: http://www.mymidwife.org/third_trimester.cfm#Group

the thing I saw as an eyebrow raiser in the 2nd paragraph was the rate of inaccuracy of detection. Which made me wonder the rate of false positive detection.... something to think about.

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To test or not to test?