Are you looking for natural remedies for Group B Strep in pregnancy? Wondering how to use raw garlic vaginally? Need to know more about yogurt sex? Wondering how many drops of tea tree oil your tampon needs? Well, look no further because I have created the ultimate guide just for you!
Before we jump in I thought I would briefly explain what Group B Strep is and why women might seek a natural remedy instead of the typical antibiotic treatment.
What is Group B Strep in Pregnancy?
Group Beta Strep (GBS) is a normal bacteria found in the intestines and vagina. According to the CDC 10-30% of women are colonized with this normal bacteria. The problem with GBS is that it can cause GBS disease in infants which can cause sepsis, pneumonia and sometimes even meningitis. Symptoms in infants may include…
- fever
- feeding problems
- breathing problems
- irritability or fussiness
- inactivity or limpness
- inability to maintain an adequate body temperature
Standard protocol for GBS+ pregnant women is to administer antibiotics during labor. This protocol has been effective as it has decreased the number of GBS disease in infants from 1.7 cases per 1,000 live births in the early 1990s to 0.34–0.37 cases per 1,000 live births in more recent years. Woot!
However, many women prefer to avoid antibiotics and the use of IV’s during labor. Instead, many use natural remedies for group b strep in pregnancy in hopes that they will…
- prevent the initial positive test
- eliminate GBS bacteria after a positive test and/or
- use alternative preventative measures during labor
By using the natural remedies for Group B Strep outlined in this post hopefully you too, can have a healthy pregnancy, birth and postpartum (and baby!) all without antibiotics.
Natural Remedies for Group B Strep in Pregnancy
The following is the ultimate guide to natural remedies for Group B Strep in pregnancy. To create this amazing resource I have pulled from many reputable sources all over the internet.
To learn more about each suggested alternative protocol, click the link in the name of each website for the details about each natural remedy.
If you have any questions, please leave a comment and I’ll do my best to get back with you!
TIP: If you test positive spend a good week or two doing some of the protocol listed below and then RE-TEST before labor. Often when women re-test their results come back negative. It’s worth the effort so that antibiotics can be avoided during labor!
Holistic Squid
Holistic Squid gives a great list of natural remedies for Group B Strep. The best part, however, is their garlic vaginal suppository protocol.
- Probiotics (orally)
- Vitamin C Supplementation (orally)
- Burdock Root and Echinacea Root Infusions (orally)
- Echinacea and Astragalus Tinctures (orally)
- Grapefruit Seed Extract (orally)
- Raw Garlic (orally)
- Raw Garlic (vaginally) ===> (Here is an amazing vaginal garlic protocol for GBS prevention.)
Evidence Based Birth
Evidence Based Birth doesn’t go into depth about natural remedies for Group B Strep, but does a fantastic job of outlining… you guessed it, what the research says about GBS and its treatments. This website is a great place to start on your journey to prevent and/or treat GBS.
- Colloidal Silver (orally)
- Probiotics (orally and vaginally)
- Raw Garlic (vaginally)
- Hibiclens at the Beginning of Labor
- Risk-Based Approach (to be used during labor)
Wellness Mama
Wellness Mama jumps right in with the garlic vaginal suppositories and vaginal rinses. God bless our husbands and partners.
- Vitamin C Supplementation
- Raw Garlic (orally)
- Raw Garlic (vaginally)
- Coconut Oil (orally)
- Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse (vaginally)
- Probiotics (orally)
- Fermented Foods and Beverages
Nourishing Joy
Nourishing Joy took things a step further with the yogurt douche, but she also discussed water birth as a method of reducing the risk during labor, which is totally interesting.
- Probiotic Diet
- Alkaline Diet
- Probiotics (orally)
- Reduce or Eliminate Dietary Sugar
- Probiotics (vaginally)
- Yogurt Douche
- Raw Garlic (vaginally)
- Herbal Oil Suppositories
- Hibiclens at the Beginning of Labor
- Water Birth
Mommypotamus
Mommypotamus introduces us to the apple cider vinegar bath, but everything else in her post has been mentioned by others.
- Fermented Foods
- Probiotics (orally)
- Raw Garlic (orally)
- Raw Garlic (vaginally)
- Echinacea and Astragalus Tincture (orally)
- Burdock Root and Echinacea Infusion (orally)
- Apple Cider Vinegar Bath
- Apple Cider Vinegar Tonic (orally)
- Vitamin C Supplementation
Dr. Momma
Dr. Momma suggests a few things not mentioned yet: An immune booster tincture, colloidal silver, tea tree oil tampons, Oregon grape root tincture and Hibiclens during labor. Lots of good information here!
- PB-8 Acidophilus (orally)
- Immune Booster Tincture (orally)
- Oregon Grape Root Tincture (orally)
- Foods Rich in Vitamin C
- Raw Garlic (vaginally)
- Raw Garlic (orally)
- Colloidal Silver (orally)
- DIY Organic Olive Oil and Tea Tree Oil Tampon
- Hibiclens at the Beginning of Labor
Gentle Birth
Gentle Birth was the blog that introduced me to the concept of yogurt sex. I can never delete that image from my brain. Other than that fun natural remedy for Group Beta Strep, this post discusses goldenseal tincture, lavender oil and hot yarrow douches, echinacea tea and echinacea supplements. This post is lengthy and hard to read but has a TON of interesting information!
- Yogurt Sex
- Essential Oil Vaginal Suppositories
- Goldenseal Tincture Douche
- Warm Water and Lavender Oil (not essential oil) Douche
- Hot Yarrow Herbal Douche
- Echinacea Tea or Supplements (orally)
- Hibiclens at the Beginning of Labor
Live Strong
Live Strong has good information on how to make an echinacea infusion and ideas about different types of vaginal flushes.
- Fermented Foods
- Fresh Fruit (fruit salad is delicious!) and Vegetables
- Echinacea Infusions (orally)
- Vaginal Flushes
- Vaginal Probiotic Suppositories
- Probiotic Supplementation (orally)
Stand and Deliver
I love Stand and Deliver’s post because it’s been around awhile (2008) and has some great ideas: grapefruit seed extract, homeopathic remedies and herbal-C suppositories.
- Acidophilus or pro-biotic supplement: 4 billion cells per dose (orally)
- Echinacea Capsules (orally)
- Garlic Capsules (orally)
- Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids (orally)
- Grapefruit Seed Extract (orally)
- Homeopathic Streptococcynum (orally)
- Herbal-C Suppositories (vaginally)
Rebooted Mom
The unique thing on Rebooted Mom’s post is the rosehip tea!
- Raw Kefir (orally)
- Coconut Oil (orally)
- Apple Cider Vinegar (orally)
- Raw Garlic (orally)
- Rosehip Tea (orally)
- Yogurt (orally)
Just Making Noise
Just Making Noise takes the cake on rubbing “all the things” in and around the vagina. I’m surprised she didn’t mention yogurt sex. Disappointed more than surprised. 😉
- Fermented Foods
- Eat Superfoods
- Raw Apple Cider Vinegar (orally)
- Avoid Antibiotics
- Food Based Vitamin C Supplementation (orally)
- Probiotic Supplementation (orally)
- Coconut Oil in and Around the Vagina
- Raw Garlic (vaginally)
- Raw Garlic (orally)
- Cotton Underwear
- Ask for a Vaginal Swab Only (and Not Rectal)
- Tea Tree Essential Oil Vaginal Suppository
- Rub Kefir in and Around Vaginal Area
Nikki
Friday 26th of February 2021
Thank you so much for this incredible resource!!! I am trying MANY of these suggestions and also have found what seems to be a promising remedy by Dr. Bruhn who suggests a combination of tinctures!
Larisa
Saturday 8th of September 2018
Do you have any recommendations for me? I am not pregnant but have had two cases of group b strep utis. I'm finding it difficult to find answers from my doctor and am left to find my own ways of curing the group b so I can have this not happen again. I have seen a urologist but they were not much help. I am seeing another one on Thursday.
J.
Wednesday 6th of March 2019
Hi Larisa, I have the same problem and I am not prognant. I found some help in raw kefir for 10-20 days everyday. However, it keeps coming back once or twice year. Most GYN just assume and treat people for BV but our problem is not BV and they do not know what to do until they get the right test with for some people never happens. Please let me know more about what your urolgist told you. Thank you
NYArtist
Monday 30th of April 2018
What is the strength on the homeopathic recommendation?
NYArtist
Monday 30th of April 2018
I have tried many of these options and nothing is working. I'm terrified to use cipro and another strong antibiotic that my gyn recommended. I must have a really stubborn case of Strep B. Any suggestions?
J. C.
Friday 16th of September 2022
My midwife, reputable and highly recommend in my area, recommends some of these. "Just take the antibiotics" isn't actually a good answer. They gave me penicillin during labor for it last time and I experienced psychosis- a rare but known side effect. Nurses wrote off any symptoms as first time mom, and now I have PTSD from that heightened traumatic experience. I almost chose to have no more children... Almost. I've spent years in recovery, and although PTSD can be managed, it's well known to be a life long issue. This isn't even my first bad experience with "perfectly safe" medications. Despite that, I'm still not against all medication, but I have learned to not blindly take whatever I'm told to. Naturally remedies can work, usually with few to no side effects. When they don't work, we have the blessing of modern medicine that we can always fall back on. Kinda hard to do the reverse.
Jocelyn
Monday 14th of May 2018
Please don't be terrified! Cipro is not that strong of an antibiotic, and as a midwife, I can tell you that GBS is way more terrifying because it could potentially KILL your baby!!! PLEASE listen to your provider. They have you and your babies best interest at heart!!! GBS can come and go on it's own many times during pregnancy, that's why we test you during your last month. Even of you do these vaginal washes or suppositories, many times the organism comes from the GI tract and you would still be exposing your child I'd not given antibiotics. Pregnant women are more often colonized with GBS during pregnancy because of the NATURAL vaginal pH changes that take place due to pregnancy hormones! The pH changes NATURALLY to help protect more harmful bacteria from growing and causing a serious infection WHILE YOU ARE STILL PREGNANT THAT CAN CAUSE RUPTURE OF THE MEMBRANES, PRETERM LABOR, OR WORSE!!!! Ladies PLEASE DO NOT TRY THESE DANGEROUS REMEDIES AT HOME!!! And please do you're research before telling pennant women to insert foreign objects, food, and chemicals into their vagina!!!
Karen Peters
Wednesday 24th of January 2018
Putting tea tree essential oil on a tampon is great way to burn and scar your vagin area. That is dangerous advice and am shocked you advocating for women to do this while pregnant. I suggest your research essential pil safety before promoting anymore advice on essential oils.
MLS
Saturday 17th of March 2018
As a certified essential oil expert, tea tree oil properly diluted will not cause a burning sensation as is safe to use.