7 Proven Ways To Stop Group B Strep (GBS) In Pregnancy

Group Beta Streptococcus, or GBS, is a bacterial colonization that affects between 25-30% of women in their third trimester of pregnancy. This bacteria is found in healthy people’s lower genital and digestive tract.

The most concerning effect of GBS colonization is the potential of passing it to your baby at birth. In most cases, GBS simply becomes part of their healthy microbiome. But, in rare cases, GBS can cause a serious infection in infants called Group B Strep disease, so doing all that you can to prevent GBS is a wise course of action.

Moms are usually screened for Group B Strep between the 35th and 37th week of their pregnancies, and if positive, given intravenous antibiotics during labor.

The Risk of Using Antibiotics

The antibiotic for treating Group B Strep is penicillin.  The CDC estimates that 0.5% of babies born to GBS positive moms with NO treatment will develop an infection – but 6% of those who develop an infection will die – that 6% equates to 3 in 10,000 babies. (Source)

Although use of penicillin during labor can be helpful, it can also be just as harmful to the baby.  Penicillin not only kills Group B Strep but ALL bacteria. It creates antibiotic resistant bacteria in the mother, and it also creates that bacterial resistance in her newborn. Exposure to antibiotics annihilate healthy bacteria that newborns need to establish in their intestinal microbiome and create anti-social children.

Prescription penicillin one gets from the doctor is derived from mold. I have often wondered if my present day mold sensitivity is secondary to the allergies to penicillin made from mold. (PS. If you really want the effect of penicillin, you can make a natural form of  ‘penicillin’ soup without the mold!).

The Good News

GBS and harmful gut-disrupting antibiotics can be avoided with natural remedies used ahead of time. Since GBS occurs in the digestive tract, start there with proper diet and nutrition to help get rid of the chance of coming up positive instead of just focusing on the genital area.

ENCOURAGING TIP:  If you test positive, spend a good week or two doing some of the protocols you’ll see listed below, and then RE-TEST before labor. Often when women re-test their results come back negative. It’s worth the effort so that antibiotics can be avoided during labor!

One seasoned midwife relates she is yet to have a case of GBS when a mom follows this protocol:

• Taking a high quality probiotic (take 3-4 of these daily, spaced) and occasionally using them vaginally

• Taking 2,000 mg of Vitamin C daily

• Taking 2 garlic capsules daily

But let’s look further for confirmation.

I chose 5 ‘Natural’ moms, a midwife, and an MD that outlined what they did from all over the internet for prevention and treatment.

What They Did That Worked – Natural Remedies for GBS:

There are a few common things that they all did, so a quick glance will give you lots of information.

I’ve linked back to their site so you can go deeper if you have questions.

1. Wellness Mama

She tested positive at 35 weeks for GBS and then at 37 weeks was tested again and the result was negative. This is what she did that worked:

• Took 2,000 mg of Vitamin C in divided doses each day

• Ate 2 cloves of raw garlic each day – make sure to take with food

• Consumed ~2 Tablespoons of coconut oil daily for its antibacterial/antiviral properties

• Used a diluted apple cider vinegar rinse vaginally each day

• Took 6+ probiotic capsules a day

• Consumed good amounts of fermented foods and drinks

• Used a garlic clove vaginally for one night (anecdotal evidence supports that this is very effective)

2. Nourishing Joy concentrated on using:

• Probiotics in the diet (raw, fermented) and supplemented (orally)

• Probiotics (vaginally)

• Yogurt douche

• Reducing or cutting out dietary sugar

• Raw garlic (vaginally)

• Hibiclens at the start of labor – this should be a last resort, as the emerging evidence about the bacterial transfer during labor brings this practice into question.

• Water Birth

3. Dr. Green Mom used:

• Probiotics – as an oral supplement and also fermented foods

• Probiotic capsules (vaginally)

• Zinc (40 mg/d.)

• Garlic (vaginally) How to Treat a Vaginal Infection with a Clove of Garlic

• Garlic and echinacea (orally)

• Omega-3 supplement such as cod liver or fish oil and/or eat at least 2 servings of fish per week

• Avoided synthetic or scented vaginal hygiene products – they alter the pH balance

• Wore breathable cotton or bamboo underwear

4. Holistic Squid

Emily Bartlett, a midwife, adds to her list a garlic vaginal suppository protocol for GBS prevention.

• Probiotics (orally)

• Vitamin C Supplementation (orally)

• Burdock Root and Echinacea Root Infusions (orally)

• Echinacea and Astragalus Tinctures (orally)

• Grapefruit Seed Extract (orally)

• Raw Garlic (orally)

5. Rebooted Mom

• Drank Raw Milk Kefir (orally)

• Took Coconut Oil (orally)

• Drank Apple Cider Vinegar, organic (orally) 1 TBSP in water 3x/d

• Used Raw Garlic (orally and vaginally)

• Drank 3 C. of Rosehip Tea daily for the high Vitamin C content

• Ate Cultured Raw Milk Yogurt (orally)

6. Treasured Tips

• Took a whole food prenatal vitamin

• Took (food based) vitamin C and vitamin E

• Took a probiotic (with multiple strains proven (by 2016 study) to prevent Group B Strep)

• Ate probiotic-rich yogurt daily

• Ate coconut oil daily

• Ate foods with lots of garlic

7. Aviva Romm, MD

• Increased leafy greens, and other fruits and vegetables to ensure 8 servings/day

• Took zinc, vitamin D, and vitamin C, to keep your immunity boosted

• Ate probiotic foods (sauerkraut, kimchi, yogurt) daily

• Garlic (orally and vaginally)

• She shares a vaginal suppository RECIPE using coconut oil, essential oils, and probiotic powders

By using the natural remedies for GBS outlined in this post, hopefully you too can have a healthy pregnancy, birth, baby, and postpartum all without antibiotics.

May God abundantly bless each and every one of you, Mothers, and your precious babies!

More TIPS For Pregnancy and Afterwards:

• Rebecca’s Story: TRS, a Safe Heavy Metal Detox, Can Help Pregnancy

• 7 Nasty Ingredients I Avoided During My First Pregnancy

• Raspberry Leaf In Pregnancy For Morning Sickness & Ease of Labor

• Did You Know the Vitamin K Your Baby Gets Has a Black Box Warning?

• 3 Homeopathic Remedies for Mastitis & How To Use Lecithin

• A Safe and Simple Way to Turn Breech Babies in the Womb

• 6 Scientific Reasons (Including Pregnancy) To Sleep On Your Left Side

“He [God] tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.“ ~Isaiah 40:11

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