What is Group B Strep?

Learn about how a common bacteria can effect your birth plan and your baby.

FACTS ABOUT GBS
Group B streptococcus is a common bacteria that is often found in the digestive tract and lower genital tract. It is considered a normal part of our microbiome and most people have no symptoms related to its presence.

The CDC recommends measuring GBS with a culture test at 35-37 weeks of pregnancy. This is done by swabbing the rectum and vagina with a Q-tip, and then waiting to see if GBS grows. It takes about 48 hours to get the results back. The goal is to get the results back before labor begins (CDC, 2010).

GBS is present in the vagina and/or rectum of up to 30% of all pregnant women.

GBS is usually asymptomatic, but it can cause reoccurring UTI's, water breaking before labor has been initiated (PROM) and can cause infection.

1-2% of Newborns with GBS + mothers may be affected by it and are at risk for developing Group B strep disease, a potentially serious infection.

Evidence on Group B Strep in Pregnancy
https://evidencebasedbirth.com/groupb...

Study shows that probiotics may help pregnant women with GBS colonization
The study investigated the effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus (GR-1®) and Lactobacillus reuteri (RC-14®) on pregnant women with Group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonization.
https://www.chr-hansen.com/en/probiot...

Waterbirth & GBS
"There was more GBS in the pools in which waterbirths had taken place compared with the pools used only for immersion during the first stage of labor. However, infants who were born in the water were less frequently colonized with GBS than those born on land. Nasal swabs were positive for GBS in 11.7% of the land birth group compared to 1.5% of the waterbirth group. And throat swabs were positive for GBS in 8.4% of the land birthgroup compared to 1.4% of the waterbirth group." https://evidencebasedbirth.com/waterb...

RCOG (Royal College of Obstetrics & Gynecology) Group B Streptococcus (GBS) in pregnancy and newborn babies https://www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/...

"If you choose not to have antibiotics in labour then your baby will be monitored closely for 12 hours after birth as they are at increased risk of developing early-onset GBS infection."

"If GBS is found in your urine then you will need antibiotics as soon as it is diagnosed to treat your urinary tract infection; you will also be offered antibiotics through a drip during labour to prevent GBS infection in your baby."

"You should still be able to move around freely during labour and this should not stop you from having a water birth."

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