July is Group B Strep Awareness Month.
GBS Positive? Where to go for info.
Hearing you`re Group B Strep (GBS) positive at the end of pregnancy can feel overwhelming, but it is actually very common. Around 1 in 4 pregnant people will test positive.
A positive test does not mean you`re sick or that your baby is infected. It simply means GBS bacteria are present, and the goal is to reduce the chance of passing it to your baby during labor.
Most families are offered IV antibiotics during labor, which have been shown to reduce the risk of early-onset GBS disease in newborns.
Questions worth discussing with your provider:
• When should I come to the hospital if my water breaks?
• When are antibiotics recommended?
• What if I have a penicillin allergy? Are there any alternatives?
• How will my baby be monitored after birth?
A positive GBS test is one small piece of your birth story.
For an evidence-based deep dive, we recommend the excellent article from Evidence Based Birth® on Group B Strep, which reviews the current research and helps families make informed decisions.
#GBS #GroupBStrep #EvidenceBasedBirth #BirthEducation #PregnancyEducation #TheIowaBabyLadies #DesMoinesDoula #IowaDoula #BirthSupport
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