#183 | Group B Strep: Screening, Risks, Protocols, Problems and Alternatives

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GBS affects approximately one-third of all pregnant women, and involves widespread use of intravenous antibiotics in labor even though the screening tests are known to be highly imperfect, and some women are at significantly greater risk of GBS colonization than others. Further, there are specific risk factors making some babies far more likely to contract GBS than others. This "universal" approach to GBS management is the very start of our deep and detailed discussion on GBS. Cynthia and Trisha  have reviewed all the available data from the past three decades to provide you with informed decision-making on GBS.

This episode is divided into two parts, with the first part available on all podcast platforms, and the full, extended version available right now on our Patreon platform or through Apple Subscriptions.

In the regular episode (the first half of the extended episode) we cover what GBS is, how it's screened, who is most likely to test positive, the controversies around the universal approach to treating GBS in labor, how effective the antibiotics are, plus a detailed analysis on the likelihood of a baby becoming ill from GBS in both the mothers who opt for and against the antibiotics. We also discuss the difference between colonization and infection in babies,  the associated risk to babies and the maternal risk factors that increase risks to the baby. Ultimately, we break down the stats to answer the question everyone wants to know: How likely is it that my baby will get sick and/or die from GBS infection if I do or do not get tested and/or take antibiotics in labor?

In the extended version of this episode, available to all our listeners at the click of a button on Patreon, we also cover:
- ways to "pass" the test, and what to keep in mind if you do so;
- how to treat your GBS naturally, skipping the antibiotics altogether;
- the effects of the antibiotics on your baby's microbiome and the two no-risk, natural things you can do postpartum to restore your baby's flora safely and quickly;
- risks of the antibiotics on moms, and how to minimize those risks;
- how the antibiotics can interfere in your breastfeeding relationship;
- what we're seeing with probiotics, how to take them and specifically the best probiotic to take during pregnancy to support vaginal flora;
- what if you're planning a home birth and have GBS;
- the rapid test (promising results but not without its limitations); and
- what you can do to reduce your chances of being a carrier of GBS in your pregnancy.

Our goal in this episode is t

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Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.