GBS or Group B Streptococcus is a spherical shaped bacterium, which lives in the reproductive and the digestive tracts of numerous adults and usually causes no problems. However, it can be a potential threat during pregnancy because of the fact that it has the ability to get transferred from the mother to the baby. Claim Your 20 Free Pregnancy Tests – Click Here
Under this circumstance the baby will suffer from serious infections, which may even lead to death. In the third trimester, towards the end of pregnancy, many doctors conduct a test to check the presence of Group B Strep. If the test result is positive for the bacteria, a few treatment options are provided to the pregnant lady in order to ensure that the baby is safe. Here are some of the treatment options for GBS during pregnancy.
At the time of labor it is recommended that the pregnant lady receive antibiotics against the bacteria intravenously. Before birth, she should get at least two doses. The antibiotics, which are commonly administered, are ampicillin and penicillin.
However, there is a side effect that you should be careful about. The mother may suffer with yeast infection as a result of the administration of these antibiotics. What happens is, along with the Group B Strep bacteria, the beneficial bacteria in the body are also killed.
As a result, the yeast cells divide and increase in number. They baby will also suffer with thrush or the overgrowth of yeast because of this side effect. Thrush is actually the overgrowth in the mouth. The fungi grow especially on the tongue, forming a white colored coating.
When labor begins, vaginal douching with the use of chlorhexidine or Hibiclens soap has been proved to be effective against GBS. The effect of this soap is short-term and will not last for more than a couple of days. This is the reason why douching must be done only during active labor and not before.
A benefit is that it concentrates on the colonization of the bacteria only in the vaginal tract and not in the digestive tract. Because of this the bacteria will return to the vaginal tract sooner or later.
Another benefit is the fact that douching targets only GBS and leaves the other beneficial bacteria alone. Thus, you don’t have to worry about overgrowth of yeast and thrush. Studies have shown that antibiotic use and douching the vaginal tract are equally effective.
Vaginal douching has an edge because of the fact that it does not come with side effects. If you don’t fancy either of these treatments, you can go the natural way. Yes, there are a few natural remedies that you could use during pregnancy in order to get rid of GBS.
One example is the use of garlic. Peel a garlic clove and place in the vagina during bedtime. Do this for three nights in a row and then, on the fourth day, get yourself tested to see if there is an improvement. Remember to discard the clove every morning. Garlic is a natural antibiotic and is effective against GBS.
Essential oils will help you too. You can use mountain savory essential oils, oregano, and lemon together and take them through gelatin capsules thrice every day.
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