Group B Strep – Midwife Louisiana, LLC

Please read the disclaimer.

Group B Strep (or GBS) is a bacteria that lives in our large intestines. We all have it. It is part of our normal gut flora. Sometimes, this bacteria travels from the anus to the vagina. When it does, there are no symptoms. No odor. It may come and go, and come back again. In fact, the only way to know when the vagina has been colonized is to test for it. It is not sexually transmitted. It is not a matter of cleanliness. Most of the time, it is not an issue. The only time it is an issue is when a person is pregnant.

Sometimes, when a baby it born to a parent with GBS, the baby will get colonized with the bacteria in their lungs. Most of the time, this is not a problem. However, there are times when the bacteria colony turns into an infection, and that is very concerning. A baby with a GBS infection is very, very sick and has trouble breathing. They have to stay in the NICU and sometimes have lasting complications from the infection.

In the US, we screen for GBS at 36 weeks of pregnancy. The result is considered a reliable gauge of a person’s GBS status for four weeks, or until 40 weeks of pregnancy when most people deliver (in the hospital). The test is a swab from just inside the vagina, across the perineum and along the anus. The swab is then placed in a medium to see if bacteria will grow in 3 days. This is called a culture. I can collect it for you, or give you instructions on how to collect the culture on yourself. When the result is negative, no further action is required. When the result is positive, the ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) recommends IV antibiotics every two to four hours during labor, depending on factors such as rupture of membranes. The antibiotics cross the placenta and significantly reduce the rate of infection in babies.

Stats

50% of women who test positive for GBS will pass it on to their babies
1-2 % of these babies will develop GBS infection
Implementation of using prophylactic antibiotic to has reduced GBS infections in babies by 80%

Options

Parents want what is best for their babies. For some, the best for them is the CDC recommendation of routine antibiotics during labor. I am able to give penicillin G through an IV in a home birth setting. I put a port in the hand, and it usually takes about 20 minutes for the antibiotics to be administered. I then take the IV out of the port so you may be mobile during labor. I reconnect the IV for another round of antibiotics if the baby has not yet been born within four hours. When a parent is allergic to penicillin, we will need to get an alternative from their primary care provider. When antibiotics are used to treat Group B Strep, I will recommend dietary fiber for the mother to colonize her gut with beneficial bacteria. I do not recommend giving probiotics to a newborn since the baby is born without any bacteria in the gut to begin with.

Some families don’t want antibiotics. They are usually concerned about gut flora for mother and baby, and how antibiotics can disrupt this balance. The baby can develop a yeast infection (thrush in the mouth, diaper yeast in the diaper area and it can happen without the use of antibiotics) and transfer it to the nipples during breast feedings. Yeast infections are painful and can be hard to get rid of. The risk assessment made by these parents find it difficult to justify the slightly higher likelihood of an adverse reaction from antibiotics to the small likelihood of a GBS infection. For these families, we do a “wait and see” approach. I educate them about the signs of infection in a newborn and instruct them to go to the ER at the first signs of one.

An Ounce of Prevention

A urine culture is usually collected at the initial OB appointment. This will indicate whether or not there is a urinary tract infection (UTI) as it can cause preterm labor. It will also identify the type of bacteria growing. Sometimes, that bacteria is GBS. When GBS travels to the urinary tract, it is almost always present at the 36 week screen. When GBS is present in the urine culture, I have yet to see it clear up with treatments, but am always willing to try.

Starting in the third trimester, I recommend a probiotic for optimal gut health. Specifically seek the Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14 strains as these two combined are the ones that are showing promise in preliminary studies for reducing GBS positive tests during pregnancy.

For your probiotics to thrive, you will need to feed them prebiotic fibers. These are non-digestible fibers that pass through your upper digestive tract and ferment in the gut, providing a “feast: for you beneficial bacteria.

Here are some of the best food sources categorized by the type of fiber they provide:

1. High-Inulin Foods

Inulin is one of the most well-researched prebiotics for boosting Lactobacillus levels.

Chicory Root is the richest source, often used as a caffeine free coffee substitute. Pregnancy safe when used in moderation.

Jerusalem Artichoke: Also called “sunchokes,” these look like ginger roots but taste like nutty potatoes. Look for them at natural food grocers and farmers markets. Their season is in the fall, early winter.
Dandelion Greens: Great mixed in salads, though they have a bitter kick. Avoid dandelion tea as its strength detoxifies the liver, a pregnancy contraindication.
Garlic, Onions, and Leeks: These contain smaller amounts of inulin but are easy to incorporate into daily cooking.

2. Resistant Starches

These act like fiber because they “resist” digestion until they reach the large intestine.

Cooked and Cooled Potatoes: When you boil potatoes and let them cool, the starch converts into a prebiotic form. Think potato salad.

Green (Unripe) Bananas: These are high in resistant starch; as they ripen, that starch turns into simple sugar. Common in Latin American cooking, recipes are plentiful online.
Oats and Barley: These contain beta-glucans, which are excellent for both heart health and gut microbes.

3. Legumes and Beans

These are “slow-carb” powerhouses that feed a wide variety of healthy bacteria.

Lentils: Highly effective at promoting a healthy gut environment.

Chickpeas (Garbanzo Beans): The main ingredient in hummus. Great for general Lactobacillus support.
Green Peas: Contain a mix of soluble and insoluble fibers that act as fuel.
Peanuts:

4. Specialized Fruits and Veggies

Apples: Contain pectin, a prebiotic fiber that has been shown to increase Lactobacillus populations.
Asparagus: A very convenient source of prebiotic fiber when lightly steamed.
Flaxseeds: These provide “mucilage” gums and cellulose that feed your flora while aiding regularity.
Psyllium: This is the active ingredient in Metamucil. It can be purchased separately and made with a sugar substitute and fresh lemon juice for taste. This option works well for those watching their sugar intake or have food aversions to those mentioned above.

Fiber needs water in order to move through the bowel. When increasing the amount of fiber in you diet, be mindful about increasing your amount of water to avoid constipation related issues.

Other practices that may help prevent a positive GBS result include:

wipe from front to back after toileting
change underwear daily
wash underwear in hot water if available, or use bleach
washing thoroughly between anal play and vaginal play

There is no evidence, even antidotal, that wearing thong underwear has any affect on GBS transmission. Even with the best practices of prevention, the test may still be positive. When a pregnancy goes beyond 40 weeks, we can test again to see if the status has changed. If positive at that time, we will have already discussed a plan of action that the parents are comfortable with. Your body is not broken. There is nothing wrong. We just have some more choices to make together on your plan of care.

No Thank You!

Some parents ask about declining the GBS screen and want to use the “wait and see” approach to see if the baby develops any symptoms. While I support parents’ choices, I am bound by the Louisiana Midwifery Rules and Regulations requiring me to perform the screen. You may decline, but it is illegal for me to continue care for anyone who does. Another thing to consider is in the event of the baby needing to transfer, the hospital will treat the baby as though the mother was positive for GBS and there were no antibiotics used during labor. This could mean an unnecessary NICU stay for the baby with a full septic workup.