The things you do for your child

All us mothers to be get tested for GBS between weeks 35 and 37. If you are GBS positive, your Midwife/OB will likely talk to you about antibiotics through an IV in labor. Antibiotics are administered through an IV every four hours starting when you hit active labor or when your waters release. 1 in 4 women are carriers of GBS at the time of birth. Approximately one of every 200 babies whose mothers carry GBS develop signs and symptoms of GBS disease. Of these, one of every 20 babies with GBS disease dies from infection. Babies that survive, particularly those who have meningitis, may have long-term problems, such as hearing or vision loss or learning disabilities. (GBS very rarely infect an average birth weight baby born at term. The risks are higher in the case of a premature or low weight newborn baby.)

So what's the natural way to prevent GBS besides being stuck with a needle and IV therefore limiting your movements during labor? I kid you not, this is my world. It freaks AG out to no end because it IS weird. Garlic or IV? hrm....

Garlic Protocol for Knocking Out GBS

Determine when you will be tested for Group B Strep by your care provider. Starting 8 days before that time, follow the following protocol each evening and morning:

w Each evening peel a whole garlic clove, do not puncture the clove if possible
w Insert clove into your vagina, pushing it up toward your cervix as best you can* (partners are good for this)
w Each morning, remove the clove of garlic (it will often exit quite easily as you sit on the toilet and give a little push with your kegel muscles)

Continue this until the morning of your test.

You may taste garlic in your mouth, so that’s why it is easier to do this overnight than during the day. The taste and smell typically slowly clears in the morning.

*If you are concerned about the garlic “getting lost”, remember, there’s nowhere for it to go. However, you may also pierce the clove with a thin needle and knot a piece of thread around it for easier removal. (Tampon style.)

Do not wear thong panties. Avoid wearing mini pads. Eat lots of yogurt with live acidophilous cultures.