Hey guys! I haven’t found the quiet space to do any recordings of my own recently (bH between baby girl and her big sisters, quiet is in short supply around here!) BUT I want to recommend a fabulous podcast episode by Chanie Fingerer. I was interviewed on her Happy Birthway Podcast earlier this summer, and in general I think she’s got great info but this one in particular was exactly what I like THE WHOLE WORLD to hear.
Apparently there was an article in a popular frum magazine that had more opinion than fact on what makes a safe birth. I didn’t read it myself, but Chanie does us the favor of reading it on her podcast with interjections to break down the misinformation re: both home and hospital birth. đ In my eyes, as a well-educated provider and consumer (and yes, a home birther), I think she did a complete and excellent job!
Check out Chanie’s podcast at https://happybirthwaypodcast.libsyn.com/62-heartbreaking-birth-misinformation – or search for the Happy Birthway Podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon… etc. Looks like she’s everywhere!
Ok. I have one thing to add. (Don’t I always?)
Chanie talks a bit about GBS – Group B Strep – testing and treating in labor. It’s a pretty dense subject and she gave a reasonable overview. If you’re looking for a full picture of the most current evidence on testing and treating for GBS in pregnancy, visit https://evidencebasedbirth.com/groupbstrep/
As a response directly to her response about the blurb on GBS in the magazine article, it’s important to realize:
- Different countries have different protocols for testing and treating GBS in pregnancy and labor (including Israel – where providers are often more “machmir” than the protocol – and the UK).
- It is possible, though rare, for a baby to contract GBS prior to labor! So that just adds more questions to the stories Chanie mentions with lo aleinu bad outcomes for baby.
- A women can change from GBS (+) to GBS (-) or vs vs during her pregnancy, including towards the end. (Which is one reason antibiotics aren’t given until labor itself.)
- For you microbiome enthusiasts out there, who are hesitant to introduce antibiotics to an infant (I totally feel you), at least you can be reassured that the most recent data suggests that breastfed babies can rebuild that microbiome in the months after birth.
I myself am always GBS (+). For my first I received many doses of antibiotics during a long induction with already-leaking fluid. ~~ For my second (a home birth) I decided to opt out barring any high-risk flags, but delivered within an hour of my midwife’s arrival anyway – antibiotics wouldn’t have had time to kick in. Then I proceeded to fret about my decision for two whole weeks, and concluded I’d go with antibiotics next time. Be true to yourself! What will make you feel safest in that birth? There’s room in the evidence to make educated choices either way. ~~ For my third I had to remind the midwife in the birth center to start the antibiotics, and they really just barely had time to kick in. ~~ When induced with the fourth, same story as the third, but in the hospital. ~~ When expecting my fifth I reassessed the evidence and concluded I would request antibiotics again… and she was born within 30 minutes of active labor beginning. Well, no time for antibiotics there! And because I was familiar with the protocol I felt confident turning down the “standard” blood culture for babies of known GBS (+) mothers who didn’t receive antibiotics. BH, she was fine.
P'nima Wellness 