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GBS, or Group Beta Streptococcus, is an colonization that affects many people and around 1/4 to 1/3 of women in the third trimester of pregnancy. Many people carry this bacteria in their digestive systems with no problem, but it can cause complications in a newborns of mothers who are colonized.
Mothers are often tested for Group B Strep in the third trimester of pregnancy and if they are positive, are usually given antibiotics during labor. I tested positive for GBS in my fourth pregnancy, though I eradicated it and tested negative before the birth, and then I tested negative in my next pregnancy (thus the title of the post). As there is a very small chance of serious and life threatening complications for baby in GBS positive moms (even with antibiotic use), I wanted to share what worked for me in hopes it would help other women avoid this risk to baby. This is just my experience and is not intended to be medical advice.
For more information on the risks associated with GBS and with antibiotic treatment, check out this well-researched article. This page provides a compilation of a lot of research on GBS and antibiotic use.
Natural Remedies for GBS
GBS certainly has the potential to be serious and shouldn’t be ignored, but antibiotics carry their own risks and can cause problems as well. Especially with all the emerging research about the transfer of gut flora and immunity from mother to baby during delivery, it would definitely be preferable not to take antibiotics if it can be avoided (especially if testing positive for GBS can be avoided in the first place).
The good news is, at least in my case, GBS can be avoided with natural remedies.
As GBS occurs naturally in the digestive tract for some people, I felt it was important to treat the digestive tract as a whole when working to eliminate GBS instead of just focusing on the genital area. A probiotic rich diet is beneficial for overall health,and I also found it helpful in getting rid of GBS.
When researching, I found the following advice for treating/preventing GBS:
- Eating a probiotic rich diet including things like Kombucha, Water Kefir, Yogurt, Sauerkraut and other fermented foods to help create a healthy gut environment.
- Taking a probiotic supplement and using it vaginally (I used this one orally daily and vaginally every day or two).
- Consuming garlic capsules or raw garlic cloves daily.
- Consuming Coconut Oil for its naturally antiviral properties.
- Using plain organic yogurt vaginally to help balance bacteria.
- Taking Vitamin C daily.
- Using a Chlorhexidine rinse vaginally before and during labor. (This is the usual protocol) This was a last resort for me and I was glad to not have to use it, as the emerging evidence about the bacterial transfer during labor brings this practice into question.
- Consuming raw apple cider vinegar daily and using it as a diluted rinse.
What I Did That Worked
With my fourth pregnancy, I tested positive at 35 weeks for GBS and then at 37 weeks was tested again and the result was negative. What I did during that time (and what a friend did successfully after testing positive very early in her pregnancy) that worked:
- Took 2,000 mg of Vitamin C in divided doses each day
- Consuming 2 cloves of raw garlic each day by finely mincing them and drinking them down with water
- Consuming at least 2 Tablespoons of coconut oil daily for its antibacterial/antiviral properties
- Using a diluted apple cider vinegar rinse vaginally each day
- Taking 6+ probiotic capsules a day
- Consuming large amounts of fermented foods and drinks
- Using a garlic clove vaginally for one night (anecdotal evidence supports that this is very effective)
In my next pregnancy to prevent GBS to begin with, I followed a protocol that is recommended by a midwife I know (and she is yet to have a case of GBS when a mom is following this):
- Taking a high quality probiotic daily (I took 2-4 of these) and occasionally using them vaginally.
- Taking 2,000 mg of Vitamin C daily
- Taking garlic capsules daily
Have you ever had GBS while pregnant? What did you do? Share below!
Thank you for this! I have GBS in my urine and it’s causing some discomfort, I’m very grateful for these tips. Questions (1) to administer the probiotic vaginally do I just put the capsule in my vagina? (2) similarly, how do I do the ACV and the yogurt cleanse for the vagina?
Thank you! Natalie
I tested GBS+ at 35 weeks while in the hospital for an unrelated issue; and my midwife immediately said I “risked out of care” for my homebirth, without warning or support. I scoured the internet looking for information about my options and pros/cons, and read at least different 15 articles on risks, statistics, outcomes, and choices – not just in the US but also UK and other countries. (I never found information on WHY healthcare professionals swab both vagina and rectum in one fell swoop – this getting butt germs all over the vaginal flora anyway – why not get just a vaginal culture? That’s what my first midwife did many years ago.).
I decided to treat GBS at home – daily or alternating days of garlic vaginal suppositories, L-Rhamnosus suppositories, Braggs ACV “sitz” baths, and oral ACV tablets, Garden of Life ultimate probiotics, daily yogurt, and also a pro/prebiotic vaginal suppository for overall good flora. I re-tested at 37.5 weeks, but I swabbed myself and only did the vagina. It was negative.
I have another midwife lined up who will take me at this late stage for a homebirth, regardless if GBS status; but those weeks of worry and deliberating over the decision of whether or not to have IV abx in labor or not was almost debilitating. I’d even purchased Hibicleanse even though it says on the box not to use it on/in genitals – as a possible last resort.
I’m not sure if vag culture was negative the entire time, and the first swab just picked up the rectal GBS, but I like to believe that the remedies I used at home for 2 weeks really cleared up any possible hint of GBS culture in the birth canal!! I’m planning to continue my home treatments and go on to have a healthy home birth without worrying about that 1-2% chance my baby could be affected by group B Strep, or a much higher chance of being affected negatively (albeit less dramatically perhaps) by my IV penicillin.
I hope my story helps other moms in some way.
Hi Katie!
The daily probiotic I take is 170 mg / 200 billion cultures per capsule. I am trying to figure out if I should take more than one a day, to follow your process/your midwife’s process. Your article says you took 2-4, but I am not sure what your mg + CFU was.
Thank you!
I have never been pregnant, but have been suffering for 2 + years with GBS. I get vaginal symptoms and every time I go to the Dr. the only thing I’m positive for is GBS. I’ve been to 8 doctors in the last 4 years about my vaginal issues and no one has been able to help me with the GBS. They just treat me with antibiotics and tell me most women don’t get symptoms. It started when I had reoccurring BV that turned into reoccurring yeast and now my issue is with GBS. I am going to try the remedies that you posted from the midwife, but am curious how many of the garlic pills I should take a day. Also, your link goes to Bio-Kult probiotics but in your thread you recommend a different one. Right now I take the RenewLife vaginal and I just take them once a day so it seems I need to up that and also use them vaginally. I did use them vaginally when I was going through my BV issues, but I didn’t know it would help with GBS so will start that again.
How many garlic pills a day?
Bio-Kult probiotics or the on you talk about in your thread?
Thank you!
Hi @wellnessmama! I usually try to find my answers by scrolling through comments, but I would be here for hours, though it was entertaining for a bit. The pharma trolls know your name! You must really be on to something. ?
I tested positive with my first pregnancy and had antibiotics during an otherwise drug-free labor. I am 19 weeks now and want to prevent as much as possible. Now that morning sickness is over, I can make (and stomach) sauerkraut and bone broth again. I’ve seen several sources say to avoid kombucha during pregnancy; do you think it’s fine to have maybe once a week or spread out over a week? At how many weeks would you recommend following the protocol seriously? I’ll take probiotics and garlic now orally, but when should that be done vaginally? Same with Vitamin C/ACV – when should I increase my intake? I’ll continue the protocol to lower any potential risk even if I test negative at 35w.
Thanks! I really appreciate your help and all you’ve shared!
Thanks so much for the post.
Could you provide insight on inserting yogurt vaginally (how to do that and how often/how much?) As well as diluting the apple cider vinegar and using that as a rinse?