Treating a GBS+ Pregnancy Naturally
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Toward the end of pregnancy, most women are offered the option to test for Group-Beta Streptococcus (GBS), a bacterial colonization that exists in 25-30 percent of all healthy women. Since I've tested positive in all four of my own pregnancies, I've certainly given lots of thought to how it affects my babies during childbirth.
What Is Group-Beta Strep (GBS)?
GBS is a normal colonization of streptococcus bacteria in the reproductive and digestive tracts. Many women who have it don't even know it – and that's fine. The only issue is in childbirth and the exposure of the infant to the bacteria.
The bacteria can cause sepsis (infection of the blood), pneumonia (infection of the lungs), or meningitis (infection of the fluid around the brain). Since the consequences can be severe, even fatal, and can happen within hours of delivery, it's common practice for midwives and doctors to routinely check for the bacterial colonization during pregnancy, but it should be noted that it is very rare for a baby – even when exposed to the bacteria – to become sick (less than 1%). It's one of those things that falls in the “likely won't have to deal with but this is serious business and we want to be prepared, just in case” category.
The conventional way to treat GBS+ mothers is to put them on IV antibiotics during delivery, administered every four hours. Penicillin, amoxycillin, or ampicillin are the usual suspects, so alternative methods may be especially helpful if you have allergies to any of those.
With my first child, I didn't think twice about the conventional methods. It was a very long delivery and I received at least seven doses. By the time my second child was born, we were starting to rethink our entire lifestyle, and we were uncertain we wanted our child exposed to antibiotics at such a tender age – as it turned out, he was born so quickly that there was no chance to even give the antibiotics. (Goodness, we didn't even make it to the hospital!)
When I tested positive for GBS with my third child, I took everything I'd learned from my previous pregnancies, talked with a number of midwives, devoured information from professional publications, and came up with a few ways I trusted to treat my GBS naturally.
Before we go on, I must remind you: I am not a medical professional and what follows is how I treat my own GBS pregnancies (and other modalities I would consider) and is not to be construed as medical advice. All good? Fabulous. 🙂
Why Go Natural?
Despite my longing to live life as naturally as possible, let me say loud and clear that I am incredibly grateful to live in an area of the world where I have easy and ready access to quality medical care, be it conventional or traditional. Never once have I worried that I would die in childbirth, for example, as is the case in many areas around our globe, even in our modern day.
That said, I loathe that much of modern medicine seeks to treat merely symptoms without thought to the whole. In the case of dealing with GBS and newborns, there is evidence that using antibiotics actually increases the chance the newborn will become ill (source unknown – see comments below), and not just from GBS. E-coli and other antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains can also remain after antibiotic administration. (Sources: Journal of Perinatology, Mothering.com, Polski Merkuriusz Lekarski)
This, obviously, was worrisome to me.
And honestly, there's also the issue of just plain comfort and convenience. During the work of childbirth, I don't want to have to hook up to an IV on a schedule, or even worse, be confined to a bed. If I'm in the shower or a birthing tub as a way of managing contractions, I don't want to have to leave the lovely, soothing water just because it's time for the next dose. Not my idea of fun.
Update 01 Oct 2014: Science & Sensibility just published a really interesting follow-up on the Cochrane Library's review of studies done regarding intrapartum antibiotics for mothers with GBS colonization, basically evaluating the last several years of research. Read it here.
High Risk?
Use these methods throughout the last month of pregnancy or as soon as you find out you are GBS positive. If at any point you become high-risk,
- you deliver before 37 weeks
- you are in labour more than 17 hours after your water breaks
- you have a severe urinary tract infection in the last trimester
- you develop a fever before or during labor
antibiotics may be absolutely necessary. Obviously, talk with your doctor or midwife ahead of time to develop a plan.
Natural Methods to Treat Group-Beta Streptococcus
Although there are no official studies that prove these methods and they are purely anecdotal, the methods listed here have been used and trusted by traditional medicine practitioners for decades, some for centuries. Some sources even mention that traditional societies have used garlic and diets high in fermented foods to treat these types of issues for thousands of years.
All natural treatments for GBS seek to achieve a common result: to reduce or eliminate the amount of streptococcus bacteria to which the newborn is exposed.
Herein lies the crux: all the preparations you do are to REDUCE OR ELIMINATE the amount of bacteria present in order to minimize your newborn's exposure. Even if you plan to use conventional antibiotics during labor, I would still recommend doing these natural preparations ahead of time, specifically because they help minimize any colonizations that might exist.
Systemic and Immunotherapy Methods
Probiotic Diet
Eating plenty of fermented and cultured foods is an important part of any healthy diet, but especially so when treating a bacterial colonization. Make sure to eat or drink at least 3-4 generous servings of foods high in lactic acid bacteria each day – yogurt, sauerkraut or other fermented vegetables, milk kefir, water kefir, kombucha, and sourdough, for example. You can also sneak probiotics into your condiments and dressings too, so you're packing your diet full of lovely healthy lactobacilli.
Alkaline Diet
This method won't be particularly helpful for treating GBS by itself, but it can help make other methods more successful by supporting them systemically. Our modern diets, even those who eat only whole foods, are largely acidifying to the body. Harmful bacterium and diseases, such as various cancers, grow and thrive in an acidic environment. Thus, if we eat foods that alkalize the body, we create an environment that is not conducive to supporting those organisms. There are many food charts around the internet to show which foods alkalize our systems and which are more acidifying, but here's a simple one at Squidoo.
Probiotic Supplements
You can also pack a punch into your system probiotically by using a very high dosage probiotic supplement, usually available at your local health food store or naturopathic pharmacy. You want something with at least 10 billion live organisms per serving – this last pregnancy I used this one from Metagenics.
Reduce or Eliminate Your Intake of Sugar
Sugar helps bacteria and yeast grow and thrive, so eliminating it from your diet will help quell the growth of the streptococcus bacteria. This is one time when the type of sugar doesn't really matter – sugar is sugar when it comes to how well it helps bacteria grow. Obviously, I recommend sticking with natural sugars as much as possible, but reduce your sweets as much as possible.
Herbal and Probiotic Treatments
Probiotic Suppositories
If you want to target the colonization very locally, you can use your probiotic gel caps as a suppository. Insert one vaginally in the morning and another at bedtime.
This can be an especially recommended method, as you want to rid the birth canal of the GBS, but you want lots of good, healthy bacteria for your baby to be exposed to during labor. (Don't believe me? Read Nourished Baby by Heather Dessinger – it's one of the most quick-reading yet thought-provoking guides to proper nourishment for babies and mothers-to-be I know of.)
Yogurt Douche
I know this one sounds a bit crazy (and you really must make sure you flush all the yogurt out afterward!), but midwives from around the world report that this is successful in dealing with a GBS colonization.
Put 1 cup of yogurt into a douche bag and allow the yogurt to wash over the inner walls for several minutes. If you want to pack an extra punch, pull open one probiotic gel cap and sprinkle the cultures into the yogurt before douching. This should be repeated once or twice a week until delivery.
To read how to douche properly and ensure no yogurt remains that can cause infection, visit Midwifery Today.
Raw Garlic
This is another method that sounds a bit from the annals of quackery, but garlic is a well-known natural antibiotic and bacteria cannot live in the presence of garlic – thus using one large clove as a suppository can be surprisingly effective.
Take one large clove of garlic, puncture it with your fingernails, and insert it vaginally at bedtime. Leave it there overnight and either let it fall out when you urinate in the morning or sew a large loop of thread into it so you can remove it in case it doesn't fall out.
If the thought of using garlic as a suppository is just too… weird… you can ingest the raw garlic instead. You'll need to eat several cloves raw each day, so be creative in getting it into your diet. Add it to salad dressings, sprinkle it raw on top of eggs, or combine it with olive oil as a dip for sourdough bread, for example.
Herbal Oil Suppositories
Various herbal essential oils, such as oil of oregano, tea tree oil, and rosemary oil, are also antibacterial and create a hostile environment for the streptococcus strain.
To use this method, mix 1-2 drops of essential oil in a few tablespoons of olive oil. Dip or roll a tampon in the oil and insert it, being careful not to shove it directly against the cervix. Leave it there for 4-6 hours and repeat daily.
Anti-Septic Wash During Labor
Chlorhexidine Gluconate, also named Hibiclens, Dexidin, Stanhexidine, or other brand names, is a surgical antiseptic wash that flushes the vaginal canal during labor. This cleans the area just for the period of time that the baby is in birth canal, which is certainly advantageous.
Strep bacteria are particularly sensitive to chlorhex compounds and thus it can be used to kill the strep without harming the more hardy, normal vaginal flora. Definitely a plus!
Using the wash is quite easy to do and you can find it at your local compounding pharmacy or online. I even found it at a standard pharmacy once by just asking at the pharmacy window, as they had it behind the counter. Read more at GentleBirth.org.
Have a Water Birth
According to a number of studies, giving birth in warm water is purportedly the safest way to reduce the baby's chance of contracting GBS. If you are willing to consider a water birth, this is an excellent prophylaxis for a GBS infection.
Research & Further Reading
Treating Group B Strep: Are Antibiotics Necessary? – from Mothering.com – an extensively researched report and an excellent resource
How to Overcome Candida – from Nourished Magazine – not specifically about GBS, but has scads of excellent information about using diet to deal with various flora that has grown out-of-hand
Midwifery Today E-news – July 9, 1999 and September 12, 2001
GentleBirth.org – a forum and collection of midwifery related articles – this is an entirely anecdotal site and includes no professional publications, but is helpful for hearing from experienced midwives, many of whom have practiced for decades
Note: Any information obtained here is not to be construed as medical or legal advice. The decision to use antibiotics or any other GBS treatment is yours and yours alone. See our full disclaimer here.
I tested positive for GBS and was using a midwife so we used the Hibiclens method. My pediatrician was very concerned about the lack of antibiotics and did not think I had been properly informed of the risks…but my baby was fine and the risk really is very low under the list you described (short labor and full-term baby). It was very uncomfortable situation for a first time mother and he put us through some unnecessary tests. To be fair though, he was genuinely concerned and called all weekend to check that she was not running a fever. I want to try some of these ideas for my current pregnancy because I really do not want to test positive again.
Do you have any encouragement from people that have tested positive and in subsequent pregnancies tested negative? I’ve also heard that you are always considered positive once you test that way but that is not true according to the doctor and midwife I am using so I am really hoping to test negative this time!
Does your protacall for Gbs on non pregnant women work because I am not and I have it all the time and I am tired of being on anti bionics I have been batteling this for at least 5 years 🙁 countless doctors , endless tears is there anything more powerful sice I am not preagnat so I can tackle it faser and does it work when I have the infection or does the protacall works just to prevent it sorry for the many questions. Thanxxx so much
Well, first of all, huge hugs to you, as it sounds like you’ve had quite a journey with GBS…. {{{hugs}}}
Second, the methods outlined here certainly may be used when you already have the bacteria, but they definitely have in mind specifically reducing and minimizing the effect of the bacteria in the birth canal, not necessarily body-wide. Although much of what I’ve listed certainly has body-wide effects, such as including lots of fermented foods or a strong probiotic supplement.
You mention that you’ve seen countless doctors – have any of them been naturopathic or a holistic physician? If not, I highly recommend making an appointment with someone who will take the time to hear your history. Most naturopaths won’t put on you on antibiotics and will attempt to deal with any underlying causes for on-going illness. Here are a few links to help find a naturopathic doctor if you don’t know where to find one –> https://nourishingjoy.com/how-to-find-holistic-health-care/
Many blessings and I pray you will heal well!
I just wanted to thank you for your article! This definitely put my mind at ease about being GBS positive. My husband and I are still planning to do our birth at home with my midwife despite this fact. I am so excited to see my sweet girl’s face and I am looking forward to trying some of your remedies! 🙂 Thanks again!
I just found out that I’m GBS positive (34 weeks, was tested at 29 weeks, will be restested at 36) and I want to thank you for your article. It gives me some ideas to work with as I prepare for labor and delivery – I know I don’t want antibiotics, and my midwife is very supportive of that!
I’m so glad and you’re so welcome! Many blessings as you prepare for your baby’s birth. 🙂
My story is very similar to rest of prev comments but i was wondering if I can use a probiotic supplement vaginally if directions say to take it orally? I really don’t have lot time left before I want to get retested for GBS in next 4 days and i could not find a store that carried the ones you insert vaginally (I just bought one thinking thats it but got home & saw the directions) and I do not have time to wait if I order one online. And if I can, does it matter what type of probiotic it is? Does it have to be gel capsule or can it be solid form? I have been taking probiotics orally everyday even before I tested positive but in last several days I’ve taken about 3 a day (same w vit. C supplements). Also I am doing a Hibiclens rinse for last 3 days & inserting raw garlic clove for 2 days now and will continue. I’ve been eating raw garlic cloves with 1 or 2 of my meals daily & drinking milk Kefir & Activia yogurt. But the reason I feel I need to focus my attention on getting rid of the bacteria more so in vaginal area is bc I get yeast infections often and believe I had one after I got tested (or even during) and also had bacteria vaginosis during my pregnancy.
Yes, you can use a probiotic supplement vaginally – I usually just pull open the gel capsule and use the powder itself. And I would *assume* it’s fine to use a solid one, but there’s not really any way to measure how effective it might be, as I’m not sure how well it would dissolve. But if that’s what you already have on hand, absolutely go for it. Throw it everything you’ve got. 😉
Many many blessings as you near the end of your pregnancy!
P.S. I just noticed your other comment asking if I had received this comment yet – I sit down to respond to comments once a day, so I’m sorry that it’s been 18 hours or so since you originally wrote. I know when you’re waiting for information, especially when it has to do with your baby, it can feel like an eternity. Sorry for the wait! {huge hugs}
Thank you for your advice, and sorry I’ve never done this before and was not sure if my 1st comment went through at all because I did not see it at first. Thank you again!
As I said on Pinterest, putting food up there is a way to cause infection not cure it and probiotics treat fungus not bacteria. Talk to your OB. Group B strep sends babies to the NICU and can be fatal. A PSA from a concerned nurse.
I was GBS + first pregnancy followed all the medical guidelines. Had 4 full doses of antibiotics in labor and my daughter still contracted GBS. Thankfully she survived and is healthy now but I’d really like to eradicate it from my system for my current pregnancy. Thank you for sharing this!
HUGE hugs and many blessings as you approach your pregnancy!!
I am reading your article with interest. However, I am somewhat confused by your comment (and link) that :
” there is evidence that using antibiotics actually increases the chance the newborn will become ill”,
The link is to a 2001 article that studied antibiotic resistant GBS in Poland. It found that most antibiotic resistant GBS strains are found in non-human animals. The purpose of the article does not relate at all to whether taking antibiotics in labour increases the risk of a baby getting GBS. The authors suggest in their abstract that “the GBS derived from people as a rule are sensitive to used antibiotics.”
I realize the connection you’re making –that development of antibiotic resistance is a real risk through the use of antibiotics, and that this would increase the likelihood that the antibiotics won’t work — but this is different than suggesting that taking antibiotics during one’s labour increases the risk of infection.
I’m all for natural approaches to labour and life in general. However, I am also all for evidence-based approaches, and wanted to point out what seems like a misinterpretation of the Polish article you reference.
Heather
Heather,
You raise an excellent point – and I wish I had an immediate response for you. However, unfortunately, in going back over the article, I see that that link is incorrect, so no wonder you’re confused. (Thanks for pointing it out!)
When I originally wrote the article more than two years ago, I had all my sources linked in footnotes. However, about a year ago all those footnotes got scrambled during a website upgrade, so I recreated the article and obviously mis-directed that link. If my memory serves me, it should reference an American study from the late 1990’s that was chronicled in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology which posited the possible link between the increased number of infected neonates who became septic and increased antibiotic-resistant strains of various streptococci (I don’t remember if it was just Group B or it included other strains as well). But I could definitely be wrong on that – to give accurate feedback on your question, I’ll need to go back to my research notes. I apologize for the confusion and I’ll obviously unlink that study!
And thank you (THANK YOU) for your critical thought and for actually taking the time to write. I absolutely agree with you that honest looks at evidence-based research are critical – if not, we’re merely creating our own rose-colored reality.
Hey I was tested for GBS at 37 weeks my test came back positive but through out my whole pregnancy they have never found any in my urine or anything. What is the quickest approach to this without using antibiotics? Will your approach work since I’m so far along?I really don’t want to be given antibiotics during labor and I also don’t want to pass it to my child so I’m going a little crazy about what to do!
By the way I am now 38 weeks today!
Pam,
GBS is typically screened at 37 weeks, so everything in this article is assuming that treatment is being undertaken in the last 2-3 weeks of pregnancy, so yes, you can use any of these approaches right now.
Also, while GBS is a serious thing, don’t stress yourself out. Talk to your practitioner about your concerns and your hopes for your birth process, take a heavy-hitting probiotic oral supplement, and then enjoy giving birth and meeting your baby. Relieving stress will help your body fight the colonization and will help you enjoy birth more too.
Many blessings to you!
Hello and thanks for the great information you’ve given us.
I have a question. With your second baby you said that you’ve delivered very fast and there was no time for treatment. Did you do any of these treatments at that time?
With my 1st baby I tested positive. I was given antibiotics but my delivery was so quick I’m afraid they didn’t work and my baby was born with infection. Doctors kept him for 10 days in NICU on antibiotics. It was a terrifying experience for a 1st time mom. Thank god he was fine with no complications.
I’m pregnant again and I’m wondering what’s your experience with your 3rd pregnancy. When did you starts doing all the natural treatment? And was your baby infected after doing all the effort?
Thank you
Oh, goodness! That is a terrifying, heart-wrenching experience – first time mom or no! Huge hugs to you as you approach your second delivery.
First, let me say first of all that NO treatment – conventional or natural – guarantees that your baby won’t be infected, as you know. Natural treatments merely reduce the number of harmful bacteria ahead of time.
That said, I began natural treatments when I was about 38 weeks pregnant with each of my kiddos and continued until labor began. Typically you are tested around 37 weeks. None of my children were infected during their births.
And honestly, even if you plan to use conventional medications during labor, I would still do the natural preparations, as those preparations will minimize the amount of harmful bacteria present in the birth canal, again, even if you plan to do antibiotics during labor.
Does that help?
Many blessings to you!!!
Yes that was very helpful and thank you for replying. I know there is no guarantee with natural treatments but I will definitely try my best. I was also told by a doc from Bulgaria(where I’m originally from) to apply lactic acid gel vaginally 2 months before delivery. That will balance the acidity and “may be” minimize the harmful bacteria.
I will do it all
Hi Kresha,
Thank you for your wonderful article and information on how to naturally treat Step B. Just a question as I’m a little confused on the probiotic suppository. In the article you say to insert a gel cap probiotic so I am assuming you just insert the whole capsule. But in the comments you say that you take apart the capsule and just use the powder. So can you do it both ways? also if you just insert the powder how on earth do you get it up there?! =) Thank you!
Good question! Yes, you can do it both ways. 🙂
If you’re going to use it by itself, I would just leave it as a suppository, as that’s easiest. However, if you’re going to use anything else – a garlic clove, a douche of some kind, or other topical treatment *inside* the birth canal, then you can open the capsule and pour the probiotics on whatever else you’re inserting.
Does that clarify your question?
Ok great thank you that clarifies it 😀
Happy New Year!
and Merry Xmas 🙂
With your first baby and having the PCN treatment throughout labor, have you noticed your child getting more sick since the antibiotic killed other normal flora compared to your 2nd child who didn’t have any PCN treatment?
I just tested positive and am concerned how the antibiotics will affect my baby.
I’m still going to change up my diet in these last couple weeks to more probiotics!
No, I haven’t noticed any difference between my children in terms of how often they get sick. From that perspective, it’s just most important to build up good flora in the baby’s gut after birth and in the first months of life through breastmilk and later fermented foods and prebiotic foods, no matter which method you follow during childbirth.
I hope your birth experience is a fabulous one!
I am 36 weeks and 4 days and just got the results from the doctor that I am positive for GBS. I am not against taking the antibiotics because I trust my providers decision; however, in reading more about GBS I found your site and would love to try to reduce/eliminate the amount of GBS prior to receiving treatment at the hospital. At my last appointment she didn’t think I will make it to my due date and guessed at 2 weeks. She said I was dilated 2 cm, thinks I lost my mucus plug, and the baby had already dropped down. I just want to make sure that it would be safe for me to try any of these directly inserted methods since I have dilated some and she has prepared me for any day now. (Preferably the garlic clove, even though I really dislike the strong taste of garlic.) Thank you for providing us with such great information!
First of all, congratulations! I hope you get to cuddle your new little one soon. 🙂
Second of all, I am not a physician or a midwife, so my comments are not medical advice. That said, either garlic or probiotics should be safe to use and would be the best of the options. You definitely want to exercise care if you no longer have your mucus plug, although as long as your water hasn’t broken and the amniotic sac is still intact, any of the methods outlined here should be acceptable.
And whether or not you’re using antibiotics, figuring out ways to minimize the colonization ahead of time is smart! 🙂
I hope that helps. The best to you!
Hi Kresha,
great article and blog.
I am due in 5 days and, having tested positive to GBS at 36 weeks, I am torn between the option of refusing the antibiotic prophylaxis (but having to birth in hospital and having my baby under pediatric observation for 5+ hours following the birth) and accepting the drugs in order to have a less medicalized birth in a Birthing Center (originally we wanted a home birth but GBS made that impossible for us on the National Health Service here in Italy).
I have found a lot of information on natural/alternative GBS treatments to minimize contamination but little and very general recommendations on what to do to minimize side effects and foster the recolonization of the baby’s and the mother’s microbiome if one chooses to take intrapartum antibiotics for GBS. I would be very interested to know if you had any specific information or recommendations on this particular issue, which I believe affects many women about to give birth around the world.
Thanks in advance!
First of all, congratulations on the new babe who is about to join you. What a joy!
Second, as for minimizing side effects, are you talking about minimizing side effects if the baby contracts meningitis? In that case, there needs to be very rapid medical intervention, definitely. Otherwise, do you mean counteracting the side effects of coming in contact with the GBS colonies themselves but not contracting meningitis? In that case, just breastfeeding and cuddling close to your baby in the hours after birth will stimulate his or her new immune system to its full potential. If you yourself want to continue to eat a super-probiotic-rich diet, that will help boost YOUR immunity, which will in turn provide great antibodies through your breastmilk, but that’s more over the next days and weeks rather than immediately following birth. That also provides the recolonization you asked about.
And all of this is true whether you choose to use intrapartum drugs or not – it sounds like both birthing options you have are good ones, so go with the one that will make you most comfortable and able to birth in a focused, joyful way. 🙂
So, I don’t know if that’s helpful or not, but I certainly wish you a happy, holy birth!
Great info here! I had three pregnancies without ever testing positive for GBS, but the fourth one came up positive. I tested twice and used natural remeidies the week between testings, but it still came up positive (I’m inclined to think it’s because we were low on cash so food consisted of cheap winter essentials and I was sometimes drinking coffee or hot chocolate from the office to keep myself from falling asleep at my computer).
Anyways, I tested positive so I continued using these remedies afterwards just in case. My midwife explained to me that antibiotics aren’t a big deal when the water breaks on it’s own and erupts shortly before birth. GBS bacteria are ascending so it takes time for the bacteria to make their way up into the placenta (unless, of course, woman has her waters broken and bacteria are pushed inside in the process).
It was also explained to me that they wait 4 hours to administer the antibiotics, then a dose is given every 4 hours thereafter. I happen to be “made” for birthing, so I passed on the antibiotics because my labor wasn’t even 4 hours LONG. Fifteen minutes after we met the midwife, my daughter was born. We did deliver at a hospital which requires you to stay for 2 days for observation (unless you waive insurance coverage). So, we stayed for the 2 days and we had ourselves a WONDERFUL time. It was just my husband and I curled up on a hospital bed with our baby and hours of movies, naps, and baby gazing. Not a bad alternative to antibiotics. Not at all… 😉
Love it! Our first son was born similarly. I’m so glad you’ve had a wonderful beginning with your new daughter! 🙂
Can you do the essential oils and raw garlic if your already dilated some? I’m already dilated 2-3 centimeters and 36+3 weeks. Positive for GBS. I have used the garlic before just wonder if it’s safe when dilated?
As long as your water hasn’t broken, it should be fine. Even though the cervix is opening and thinning, as long as the amniotic sac is still intact, meaning your water hasn’t broken, you should be able to use any of these protocols. (That’s also assuming your doctor/midwife hasn’t given you any reason why you shouldn’t!)
By the way, I’m currently 37+6 weeks, GBS positive, and right there with you. 🙂