- Group B-Strep
- Beta Strep is a bacteria that is normally
present in the vaginal area of some women. While B-Strep is
harmless to the woman, it may cause severe respiratory problems in the
newborn. For this reason, most doctors will test for B-Strep at
about 37 weeks. If you are B-Strep positive, the routine medical
protocol is to administer IV antibiotics
to you during labor.
A summary of Group Beta Strep
statistics is available here
- If you are planning a homebirth, you may
wish
to ask your doctor to perform the test at 35 weeks. There is an
alternative method of antibiotic treatment that involves 4 shots of
penicillin (one shot a week for four weeks) which you will want to discuss
with your doctor if you are B-Strep positive. This may also be a wise option
to take if you have had a precipitous (less than 2-3 hours) labor in the
past.
-
- There are also several holistic treatment
options for B-Strep positive women (see links below). The esteemed
researcher Michel Odent, MD has designed a protocol which simply entails
washing the vagina with Hibiclense (chlorohexidine) during labor. Odent's
protocol has proven to be as effective as IV antibiotics.
http://www.hpakids.org/holistic-health/articles/171/1/Preventing-Group-B-Streptococcus
-
- For
more information go to:
- Treating group
B strep: are antibiotics necessary?
- Treat Group B Strep During The Late Third Trimester
- Abstract about Prenatal Penicillin IM for Intrapartum GBS Prophylaxis
-
How to Treat a Vaginal Infection With a Clove of Garlic
-
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