Group B Strep has been one of my biggest frustrations. The medical community treats it as if it is no big deal. Typically, it doesn’t cause an adult any detriment, and if you are pregnant and test positive for GBS they simply pump you full of antibiotics through an IV when you deliver your baby. No problem….
Wait? What if I don’t want antibiotics?
Now folks, I believe antibiotics can be very useful. However, I’m not partial to using them for prevention. I’d prefer to keep my gut flora as strong as possible and also allow my baby to be born with good flora.
With both of my daughters I knew no different. I tested positive both times. It appeared to me that Group B Strep was just something I had. And there wasn’t really anything to be done about it. Then my world changed. I learned that maybe there could be another option. I killed the Candida problem that had plagued me for years. I wanted so badly to be able to build good gut flora and keep it gone. Which also means avoiding antibiotics. Unfortunately, antibiotics don’t just kill bad bacteria, they kill the beneficial bacteria that our bodies need to function as well.
I became pregnant with my third child and just crossed my fingers that there would be no sign of Group B Strep. I hoped that because the Candida was gone that I had also eliminated the GBS in that same process.
To my misfortune, around 34 weeks, I received a phone call from my doctor’s office. The nurse told me that my urine sample had tested positive for Group B Strep, and they wanted to call in some antibiotics for me to take. I was also told that they wouldn’t need to test me at 38 weeks. If they find it in your urine you always test positive in your blood. All I could think was, “Seriously?! I don’t want this problem. Now what?”
First, I made the choice to skip out on the antibiotics. I did tell my doctor and she said it was fine because I wasn’t noticing any symptoms from the Group B Strep.
Then I set up a regimen to eliminate Group B Strep, making it so I would test negative for GBS. The following information outlines the routine.
Everyday I took the following:
Apple Cider Vinegar
Some days I would just put 1 -2 Tbs. of apple cider vinegar in a shot glass and get it over with. Other days I add it to a full glass of water and mix in some raw honey and apple juice. It goes down pretty easy that way. I use this kind.
Why apple cider vinegar?
ACV helps the body maintain balance, particularly pH balance. When you have a balanced pH you are less likely to encounter infection. Apple cider vinegar is also great for detoxification of the body.
Cranberry Juice
Generally, I add the cranberry juice to a glass of water. I never measure but it is about 2 Tbs. (I buy this kind). I make sure to have at least one glass per day.
Why Cranberry?
Cranberry is your key to urinary tract health. Since I knew that the Group B Strep had populated my urinary tract and was in my urine, I knew that cranberry juice would help cleanse my system.
Raw garlic and garlic supplements
I took 1 garlic supplements each morning and 1 more at night. If I could add garlic to any of my meals I would add it, but would make sure to either add it to the meal when cooking was complete. I used this one.
You can also use a little trick that is more commonly used for yeast infections. I wrote about it here.
Why garlic?
Garlic is the miracle healing herb. It kills bacteria, viruses, fungus, and yeast. In this case we just need it for the bacteria but hey if it kills a few other bad guys along the way that’s great!
Vitamin C
You can take one 1000 mg vitamin C supplement. Personally, I make my own by grating, and drying out lemon or orange peel, and then adding it to juices or smoothies.
Why Vitamin C?
It is commonly known that vitamin C boosts immune function. Find vitamin C here.
Fermented Cod Liver Oil
I took the recommended dose of fermented cod liver oil once a day. Find it here.
Why Fermented Cod Liver Oil?
FCLO contains vitamins A, D, and K. Those vitamins also help boost immune function.
Prenatal Supplement
I continued to take my prenatal vitamins regularly. I use this brand.
Diatomaceous Earth (Food Grade)
I took 1-2 Tbs. of food grade diatomaceous earth (like this) in a smoothie or juice every day. I also eat a Brazil nut or take a selenium supplement when I take DE. I do this because diatomaceous earth can be high in heavy metals and the selenium helps to keep that neutralized.
Why Diatomaceous Earth?
Bad bacteria is negatively charged, and DE is positively charged. So, diatomaceous earth attracts bad bacteria to it and then because it is super abrasive to things like bacteria and bugs it scrapes it up and kills it. You can then pass the bacteria and begin to heal your body from it.
I share more about diatomaceous earth here.
Probiotic Supplement
I took 2 probiotics morning and night every day. Find the kind I like here.
Why Probiotics?
Probiotics help eliminate GBS by replacing bad back bacteria with good bacteria.
Yogurt
I would either have a bowl of yogurt or a smoothie almost every day. I also make my own yogurt. Here is how to do it.
Why Yogurt?
Yogurt is a probiotic powerhouse. So, by eating yogurt you are crowding out the bad bacteria with the good. Perhaps the yogurt isn’t necessary, but it is just another way to push the probiotics into your gut and to crowd out the group B strep.
If you aren’t use to taking any of these types of supplements you may have a little trouble with loose bowel movements.
Group B Strep really can be overcome. You don’t have to succumb to an IV during labor, and you don’t have to worry about the threat of any problems that GBS could cause to your infant. Is this going to be one hundred percent fool-proof? Perhaps not, but it certainly worked for me.
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Another great way to boost the good bacteria “down there” is to insert a probiotic vaginally at night. It gets the good bacteria right where it needs to be!
i came across your post thanks to pinterest- this is awesome! i think the whole hype about group b strep being fatal is just to scare expectant mothers; i tested positive for it at 37 weeks with my first baby. i was planning on a homebirth, but because of the group b my midwife said if i went into labor we’d have to go to the hospital. i was not going to go the hospital on purpose. i cut out sugars, ate lots of greens, lots of probiotics, and lots of vitamin c. a week and a half later i was tested again. the day before i went into labor my midwife called to say i tested negative- no more group b! i love all these great tips that you have though, i’m definitely keeping them in mind for the next baby 🙂
It is not hype at all, and can be very serious. To think that medical professionals benefit somehow from “scaring expectant mothers” is silly.
I lost my 4th son to GBS. It is not hype. It is also not something to fear, because our circumstances were somewhat odd to begin with. I had an emergency appendectomy when I was 13 weeks with him. At the ER, the doc did a vag check to make sure I wasn’t miscarrying, and we feel that he probably introduced the bacteria then, as I had never tested positive before that. It was not a healthy pregnancy, and I was not doing all the good things listed in the article above. The NICU doc who treated him when we transferred from home to the hospital said that it seems likely he had been infected while inside, which is an incredibly rare occurrence.
That being said, I have to say that following the advice given in the article is a really good start, but caution and wisdom should be exercised if a positive result is given. Also keep in mind that the bacteria have a life cycle of 4-6 weeks. So, it is absolutely possible that you can test positive at 35 weeks, then negative a week or so later. Or vice versa.
Thank you for your comment. My pediatrician was a little confused when he was told that I had tested both positive and negative. So after not having antibiotics during delivery he had us stay at the hospital a little longer to monitor my baby. I totally agree that caution is good idea. I’m so sorry for your lose.
Such good information! Sending the link to my 2 pregnant daughters.
Ah cod liver oil is used to induce labour. Be careful to take advise from non medical professionals. It all sounds sweet, but there is a good reason you see a doctor or a midwife for prenatal care.
I think you may be confusing cod liver oil with castor oil. Cod liver oil is a great source of omega 3’s and DHEA, both important for baby development. Regardless, it is always a good idea to inform your doctor of the supplements you are taking.
Yes, Cod liver oil is very beneficial to pregnant mommas and their unborn babies! Castor oil on the other hand has been known to stimulate labor.
My midwife has me take cod liver throughout my pregnancy and never had any problems with early labor.
Castor oil is used to induce labor
So glad this worked for you! I too have always tested GBS positive and am almost at the end of my 4th pregnancy. My birth center recommended trying garlic, probiotics, echinacea and bee propolis as they are all shown to help reduce the bacteria. Unfortunately, I still tested positive last week. 🙁 I was so disappointed! And thing is, I have such fast labor that even if they give me the antibiotic as soon as I get there it doesn’t have enough time to really go into effect (it has to be at least 1 hr. and preferably 2 hrs. before the birth and I typically have the baby within an hour- yes, crazy fast deliveries!). So needless to say, I feel a bit defeated. Think I’ll pin this though and next time around try some of your other suggestions. Can’t hurt! 🙂
In Europe standard delivery procedure when I had my last pregnancy a few years back was periodic douching with Hibiclens to prevent transmission during labor instead of introducing IV antibiotics. Since I live in the states I also used a lot of the above suggestions along with colloidal silver vaginally the night before my tests. I tested negative!
This is great info. i tested positive with both pregnancy’s and had the iv antibiotics and i believe this was the cause of both children and myself getting thrush . Which took months to go away was very painful and caused me to stop breastfeeding my first at 5 months. So thank you for sharing if i have another child i would try this!
Hi ,
I have heard that taking apple cider vinegar while pregnant is not good, I am now 9 weeks pregnant and am unsure if I should stop taking my daily dose of acv. Can someone please clarify if it’s ok to take or not?
Thank you!
I have never heard that before. I have heard of lots of women using it for heartburn during pregnancy, and obviously I used it without complication during my pregnancy. That being said, I’m not a medical professional. Check with your doctor, but I can’t think of any reason that it would be harmful.
Wow…..is all I can say. First of all gbs isn’t a blood test… and u think you are doing you baby a favor? Read some of the comments. Babies can die if not treated. So u are basically killing your baby to avoid a little antibiotics. And where did the candida thing come from? Seriously some people. …
What you aren’t understanding is that this list is a way to kill the GBS. It isn’t a way to trick the test. It is a cure. Not only that but my OB knew what I was doing. I wasn’t trying to “trick” anyone or cheat the system. Also, a weakness in the body is just that, a weakness. Meaning that any number of things can attack the body, whether it is candida, or GBS, Strep throat or the common cold… it doesn’t matter. Putting a focus on healthy diet, probiotics, and foods like garlic will help you strengthen your immunity and overcome ailments.
Thanks for the info! I loved the post! I have a question about the cod liver oil. What is the recommended dose for pregnant women? I have been looking into buying this specific brand but I haven’t been sure how much I would need to take from it. Also, if I am currently taking fish oil, should I continue taking it after I start taking cod liver oil/
I hope you reply quickly as I am almost 7 months pregnant.
Thanks!
Congratulations mamma!! Radiant Life recommends 1-2 teaspoons. You can find more info on doseage here: http://blog.radiantlifecatalog.com/bid/70257/Fermented-Cod-Liver-Oil-How-much-should-I-take
My 2nd daughter died from GBS in Jan 2013. I know many babies that have died from GBS in the past few years. It is very serious and for one of the commenters above to suggest that it being fatal is all hype is ludicrous! I’m all for the probiotics and doing anything else possible to keep the colonization as low as possible, but if you test positive, you really need the antibiotics. There is a reason that’s the recommendation! I’d much rather deal with thrush and have my baby alive than have her die.
Hi I was wondering if you received abtibiotics for gbs and if any of the women who’s children died were treated with antibiotics for gbs also
I did not receive antibiotics. The pediatrician did have us stay in the hospital a day longer to monitor my baby. However, GBS was not present and was not a problem for my baby. I couldn’t tell you about other women. I’m sure there are stories both ways.
I was just wondering if you could clarify when to begin taking these supplements. I tested positive with my last pregnancy and would like to avoid it this time. Would you start in the 3rd trimester or earlier ? Thanks so much for the informative post. I can’t wait to try this!
I would start at least a month before they test you for GBS, some doctors may do this at slightly different times, so ask when to expect that. Then I would continue until you give birth. You wouldn’t want to do this just for the test, you want to make sure that GBS is not present at delivery as well.
Hi thanks for all this great information. Id love to have known this during my pregnancy years. My second baby was born early due to water breaking at 35 weeks. I was told it was due to strep so in the last month of my third and fourth pregnancies I took antibiotics as advised. I wish I hadn’t because my two youngest daughters tend to get recurrent infections and have asthmatic and skin issues which I’m trying to reduce with healthy food, probiotics and supplements. I also have arthritis, IBS and skin issues which are responding to healthy food, probiotics and supplement regime. Love your site, thanks again and all the best 🙂
Wow! It sounds like you pregnancies certainly had some challenges. I’m glad you have the blessing of those children and that you now have knowledge to help repair some of the damage caused during those pregnancies. I wish you the best of luck!
Thanks so much Tiffany, I am indeed blessed with four wonderful daughters! Also with the fantastic knowledge we can all access on these great sites and books – currently I’m reading dr Perlmutter ‘Brain Maker’ – brilliant on microbiome; as well as Louise Hay and Robert Holden on mirror work – mindblowing! Thanks again for your inspiration and all the best, Roberta
What do you think about sexual activity during this time? Tested GBS + a few months before becoming pregnant but neg at 35 weeks. Glad to avoid antibiotics but still trying to follow good probiotic routine to increase chance that I remain healthy for delivery.
I don’t see a problem with sexual activity. I suppose it could introduce bacteria, but I wouldn’t think it would change your outcome if you follow the protocol.
Wish I new this before I gave birth, but will pass on to my friends who are expecting 🙂