Propolis tincture taken orally is supposed to be effective against GBS -
again, little research in the alternate area perhaps because of the
mega$$ pharmaceutical and diagnostic industries around childbirth.
And the research really shows that although IV antibiotics decreases the
number of babies with GBS, it also increases the number of babies with
other blood borne infections that can also be dangerous (the ABs killoff
the GBS but allow other bugs to gain resistance). And the babies whose
mothers were given IV antibiotics in labour have an increased resistance
to that antibiotic - obviosly more of an issue for premmie and sick
babies...
An interesting article by Christa Novelli 2003 which discusses the risk
of the mother taking antibiotics as well:
www.mothering.com/articles/pregnancy_birth/birth_preparation/group-b.html
"How great is the risk from antibiotics?
The recommended antibiotic for treating GBS during labor is
penicillin. Fewer bacteria currently show a resistance to penicillin
than to other antibiotics used to treat GBS. The options are fewer for
women known to be allergic to penicillin. Up to 29 percent of GBS
strains have been shown to be resistant to non-penicillin
antibiotics.46 For women not known to be allergic to penicillin, there
is a one in ten risk of a mild allergic reaction to penicillin, such
as a rash. Even for those women who have no prior experience of a
penicillin allergy, there is a one in 10,000 chance of developing
anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction.
We can compare this to CDC estimates that 0.5 percent of babies born
to GBS-positive mothers with no treatment will develop a GBS
infection, and that 6 percent of those who develop a GBS infection
will die. Six percent of 0.5 percent means that three out of every
10,000 babies born to GBS-positive mothers given no antibiotics during
labor will die from GBS infection. If the mother develops anaphylaxis
during labor (one in 10,000 will), and it is untreated, it is likely
that the infant, too, will die. So, by CDC estimates, we save the
lives of two in 10,000 babies-0.02 percent-by administering
antibiotics during labor to one third of all laboring women. We should
also keep in mind that this figure does not take into account the
infants that will die as a result of bacteria made
antibiotic-resistant by the use of antibiotics during labor-infants
who would not otherwise have become ill. When you take that into
account, there may not be any lives saved by using antibiotics during
labor."
Nothing we do or take in life can be an absolute - and some of this
stuff takes lots of sorting out.
Where I have been doing my clinical placements, if a mother had GBS in
her previous pregnancy (but not necessarily this one) she is still
treated with IV antibiotics. Yet the research clearly states that a
previous baby with GBS disease is an indicator for GBS treatment in
subsequent pregnancies, not merely being GBS positive in the previous
pregnancy.
So midwives, women and the medical profession seem to be all over the
place with different interpretations of research and policy directives.
It must come down to individual's perception of risks and safety - and
that there can be no assurances that treatment or non-treatment will
work. As Novelli states, women with negative GBS cultures still have a
1:2000 risk of her newborn developing GBS disease.
I guess all we can do is give the information and trust that the
decision made by the parents will be one that they are happy with ...
Sue
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