So can someone explain this to me, like I'm an idiot? 
It's an "infection" (Is that the right word?) that a woman can have before child birth, and she can possible transfer to the baby during childbirth....is that right?
How does a woman get this? Is there a way to prevent it so you don't need the antibiotics? Is it fairly common to test positive?
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
As far as I know there is nothing you can do to prevent not needing the antibiotics. I tested positive both times. It's just basically a IV drip and it does not saddle you to the bed! It's really not a big deal at all.
GOLD / wonderful olive / 19030 posts
I've been told there's nothing to do to prevent it, I tested positive the first time, not sure about this time yet.
hostess / cantaloupe / 6486 posts
Umm some people claim that there are homade rinses and things you can add to your diet to get rid of it but I don't know much about that. I tested positive last time (and I actually don't know if I did at my first screening this time around or not) and it's just an IV. It's naturally occurring. Has something to do with the yeast in your body or something. Some women have it, some don't but there isn't really anything you did or didn't do to get or prevent it.
ETA: haha homade....I meant homemade
hostess / watermelon / 14932 posts
I didn't have it last time, and do this time. My midwife said it's just sort of luck of the draw.
grapefruit / 4085 posts
I had it too - no big deal. I just walked around with the iv until
I couldn't walk anymore and needed drugs 
pineapple / 12566 posts
Like others have said, you can't prevent it. I actually didn't have it for LO1, but did have it for LO2. It's NBD. I had a drip IV when I first showed up in L&D, and they would have repeated it again 8 hours later had I not yet given birth.
nectarine / 2173 posts
It's not really an infection for mama - you're considered more of a carrier. It's super common and can't prevent it, but whether you carry it from pregnancy to pregnancy varies.
pomegranate / 3192 posts
Like @sapphire: said it's not an "infection". It just means your peri-rectal area (and likely birth canal) are colonized with group B strep. Normally it's not an issue but because you can pass GBS onto baby (who is very vulnerable), a GBS+ mother is usually given antibiotics throughout her labour.
It is very common to test positive. There are certain home "remedies" but the safest way to treat it is with antibiotics.
kiwi / 714 posts
It's not preventable, and there's no pattern to my knowledge. I was positive and the ob office never told me, so I was at 7cm before they had the sense to check. Luckily the epidural stalled my labor enough to get the antibiotics before my water broke/pushing.
My MIL had five babies, the fourth of which died because she hadn't been tested for gbs before labor and she passed it to him. Because of knowing that I would never try any home remedy given how safe and effective the antibiotics are.
pear / 1739 posts
Group b strep is just a naturally occurring bacteria mainly found anally. If you wipe wrong you can transfer it. You just have to deal with the antibiotics but my OB said that it is rarely passed on
grapefruit / 4554 posts
I tested negative for my first and positive for my second. I was on an IV drip during L&D.
pomegranate / 3192 posts
It is rarely passed on, but when it is the outcome can be devastating. I hate to be a downer, but I'm a NICU nurse and have seen horrific and quick deaths of newborns from GBS bacteria.
A co-workers daughter had a quick first labour and didn't have time for antibiotics. Her son ended up with GBS meningitis and seizures.
The scary thing is your GBS "status" can change before birth, even if you test negative at 35 weeks you can become positive and vice versa.
honeydew / 7916 posts
I've learned it's also a cause of permanent hearing loss in newborns. Just in case anyone was still considering the "home remedies", because during my pregnancy I encountered doulas who downplayed things like GBS and frowned on interventions.
grapefruit / 4418 posts
I too know someone who lost their baby due to GBS exposure that she didn't know she had. I wouldn't attempt any home remedies. Just make sure you get tested, let the hospital know if you are positive so they can start antibiotocs right away. I was gbs+ and it was no big deal. The worst part was the iv burned when the antibiotics were administered.
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