How I Avoided GBS Naturally

I’m adding in my experience for those who are considering the garlic + probiotic + vitamin C protocol that is presented here. I followed this protocol using Jarrow’s fem dophilus formula, both orally and vaginally beginning at 20 weeks. I just had the GBS test at 36 weeks and tested positive. I wanted this “foolproof” protocol to work so badly, but it just didn’t for me. I’d say it doesn’t hurt to try (though the probiotics are quite expensive), but in the end it might just be something that’s out of your control. Best of luck to everyone!

Hello,

I was wondering how many billion the probiotics you took contain i didn’t notice that info on the link? Also, when inserting vaginally, can I leave it in the capsule even if they have an enteric coating?

I tested positive in my fifth pregnancy for the first time, received penicillin at delivery and had the worst aftermath: recurrent mastitis/ clogged ducts, vaginitis, thrush and the worst anxiety I’ve ever experienced. I’m definitely hoping to test negative and avoid that with my 6th baby (currently 25 weeks).

I just tested positive, this is my 3rd pregnancy and my first positive. My questions are 1. Do you use ACV with the mother or without for vaginal rinse? 2. Is vaginal rinse just external? 3. You said garlic clove vaginally for one night, does it matter what night? Like I should do it now to start the regimen or closer to when I am retested?
Thank you so much! I find your site very helpful!

For preventative purposes, did you take that regimen of Vitamin C, garlic & probiotic from the time you found out you were pregnant or did you start it later? At what point does the midwife you referenced have her patients start this regimen? I’m 28 weeks along. Thank you!

When did you stop using the probiotic as a suppository? I just don’t want to go into labor shortly after inserting one. Did you stop closer to your due date or continue up until your water broke?

Hi! I’m curious as to if you saw an OB/midwife in an office or if you had a home birth? I’m 37 weeks with our 4th baby and tested positive for the first time. I’m armed and ready to start most of these natural remedies today! When I messaged asking my midwife (that works alongside OBs in an office) to be retested, she said she’s ever heard of retesting GSB before and its certainly not something their practice generally does but she’d consult with her in-office doctor before my next appt. Just curious if you were able to retest in an office?

Are the Kyolic garlic supplements effective though, since they aren’t raw and don’t contain the allicin, the main antibacterial agent in raw garlic? I’ve had gbs with my previous 2 pregnancies and didn’t think to research natural remedies. What can I say, I was younger and just took everything the doctor said as word and took the antibiotics without a second thought. Now that I’m older and more seasoned, I have learned the importance of more natural methods, and less antibiotics, especially during the birthing process. Bearing this in mind, I am pregnant again and just looking for the best possible approach toward prevention as possible. Thank you for your blog and sharing your wisdom with others such as myself who need the education!

Just sharing my experience:

I am 36wk with my 5th. I maintain a sugar free, organic paleo lifestyle (plenty of coconut oil), regularly consuming fermented foods, homemade kefir and tons of garlic. I take the best probiotic I could find (1MD) and have since my second trimester. I daily drink a homemade electrolyte drink made with raw ACV with the mother. So my typical lifestyle involves all the above recommendations aside from the vaginal suggestions. I just got a call from my OB that Im GBS+ for the third time. All my children have been born via C/S (failed vbac). My first was the only emergency c/s and was crowning when he was pushed back up with birth canal! during the c/s!!! He has serious gut issues that still impact his life 10 years later (and is the reason we are on an organic paleo diet with ferments, probiotics, and other supplements). We highly suspect ASD, though at this point he would probably not get a diagnosis due to all the improvements we’ve experienced in his communication skills, cognitive abilities, and reduction of sensory symptoms.
I digress…
I will be trying the vaginal remedies that Katie suggested because there is a chance I could go into labor before the RSC and that would then put my baby at risk. Is it wrong to do the best I can to avoid my baby contracting GBS in the event of a quick spontaneous labor?!
Katie never said don’t get the antibiotics, she is educating women on what else they can do to minimize the risk of infection. I appreciate that Katie! And even though I’m going to implement her suggestions, I will still most likely also have the routine antibiotics during the RSC if all goes as planned. I think many read into her blog post words that weren’t there. She didn’t say don’t get the antibiotics, she essentially is saying “this is what else you can do to help fight off GBS, thus reducing the risk to your baby”… there’s no harm in that! Clearly Katie, other educated mother posting here, as well as myself know the danger of GBS and are not suggesting other to risk it. However there is also hard evidence that GBS can appear at any point in the pregnancy and can fluctuates. Women can test negative at the routine culture and then develop it or give birth before the routine test. There’s no perfect remedy. To avoid all GBS cases in all infants we’d have to do all c/s and all births with antibiotics and that still wouldn’t prevent all cases of infant GBS! Not to mention c/s and unwarranted antibiotic use carries risks and concerns of their own. I’ll say it again- what harm can it cause to try these natural methods in addition to remaining open to the fact that one might also have to have the antibiotics?