I tested positive for GBS, now what?
You’ve spent days, weeks, months, researching and planning your birth. You’ve created a carefully crafted birth plan, and now you’re just a few short weeks away from the birth of your baby. Then, one day, you get a call from your provider’s office- you’re GBS positive. You think “I tested positive for GBS, now what? What about my birth plan?!?”
Don’t fret, your RCD doulas are here to help!
But, wait. First, what is GBS?
GBS stands for Group B Strep, which is a bacterium infection caused by Group B streptococcus. A group B strep infection in newborns can be dangerous. (You can learn more by watching this video here on GBS.)
Depending on your provider, you will likely be given antibiotics through an IV during labor. (Typically at least 4 hours of antibiotics for best protection against early GBS disease in your newborn and repeated throughout your labor.)
Many clients get discouraged that they will have to receive the antibiotics because they fear it will interfere with their plan for remaining mobile in labor. You might have some fears and anxieties over parts of your birth plan. You may be frantically googling ” I tested positive for GBS, now what?”
- “I’ll have to be hooked up to the IV pole my entire labor.” The antibiotics are not flowing continuously. The antibiotics ARE administered through your IV, but once they are finished, you often are able to request to be disconnected. (They will reconnect when you need your next dose.)
- “I won’t be able to move around. I’ll be stuck in bed.” You do not have to automatically be in bed just because you are GBS-positive. If you are cleared for mobility by your birth team, you can walk around with your IV pole, labor on the toilet, in a chair, on the ball, etc. Anywhere the IV pump can go, you can go! Even if the IV pump needs to be connected to power, you still have a decent amount of space to move around.
- “I’ll have to rush to the hospital.” If you’re giving birth for the first time you still may be able to labor at home. (This is a great question to talk to your provider about! A great question to ask is “Does this change when I need to arrive at the hospital?”)
While being GBS-positive may require alterations to your birth plan, it doesn’t have to derail it! We hope that if you ask “I tested positive for GBS, now what?” you now have some ideas and resources to help you feel good about your upcoming labor and birth!
