Today marked a very important milestone in my journey towards a natural Hypnobirth. In previous posts, you may remember me mentioning that I was tested for Group B Strep last week. Group B Strep is a bacteria that can exist on your skin that is normally present and harmless. If this bacteria is present in your birth, it can be passed onto your baby as he is being born and it can cause infection. For women who are tested positive for Group B Strep, they are required to get an IV after their water breaks. The IV contains antibiotics so it can protect the baby from the bacteria.
This is significant to me because I have always seen my labor going in two different directions, based on whether or not I turn out to be Group B Strep positive. If I am positive, then that means that as soon as my water breaks, I have to go to the hospital and start my antibiotic IV - regardless of whether or not I am in labor. If I haven't had any contractions, it could mean that I spend a lot of time laboring without the resources I was looking for, which is an untethered experience where I can take a bath or walk around and move freely. If I am negative, then if my water breaks, I can stay at home for up to 24 hours with the hopes that I am able to progress in my dilatation so I can spend the least amount of time possible in the hospital before I am at a 10. I worked really hard in imagining the possibilities of the two paths to be positive in either sense... although I worried a lot about how I was going to manage through with an IV knowing how much I wanted to be able to move freely as I labored. I also didn't want to rush into the hospital. To be completely honest, I was really stressed about it.
I was tested for the bacteria on Friday last week by my Midwife, and she told me that my results would be available a week later, or today. I went into my appointment today with Arthur knowing that I would find out as soon as we went back. They called my name and Arthur and I went back to get my vitals. They weighed me, and I had gained 3 lbs in 1 week. Yikes! Finn is growing and so am I. This is ok because I know that I can't beat myself up for something that I have little control over. She then took my blood pressure, and told me it was on the lower end, which is good. She then asked me if I wanted to know my Group B Strep results. I nearly screamed YES!
She fumbled for a second trying to find them and mumbled a bit about how they have had trouble over the past few days getting the results quickly from the lab. She then said that she had found them. She says "It looks like you are negative! Congratulations!" I started to cry. I was so happy. I saw my entire natural birth flash before my eyes and I was overjoyed. It was as if I had won the lottery. Arthur laughed at me a bit because of how emotional I got, but I can blame the hormones. :)
The rest of the day I have been on cloud 9. All of the stress I was feeling about my water breaking, and about being able to labor in a tub, and having to have an IV was gone.
This experience has reinforced my desire to be successful in my goal for a natural Hypnobirth. Instead of feeling anxious and nervous about Finn getting ready to be here, I am just now more excited. It's almost like a surprise, like waiting for something I'm wanting to come in the mail, or that feeling you get when you're meeting a blind date for the first time. Is that a crazy comparison? I don't know if I care, I'm just happy that today was such a great day! :)
This is significant to me because I have always seen my labor going in two different directions, based on whether or not I turn out to be Group B Strep positive. If I am positive, then that means that as soon as my water breaks, I have to go to the hospital and start my antibiotic IV - regardless of whether or not I am in labor. If I haven't had any contractions, it could mean that I spend a lot of time laboring without the resources I was looking for, which is an untethered experience where I can take a bath or walk around and move freely. If I am negative, then if my water breaks, I can stay at home for up to 24 hours with the hopes that I am able to progress in my dilatation so I can spend the least amount of time possible in the hospital before I am at a 10. I worked really hard in imagining the possibilities of the two paths to be positive in either sense... although I worried a lot about how I was going to manage through with an IV knowing how much I wanted to be able to move freely as I labored. I also didn't want to rush into the hospital. To be completely honest, I was really stressed about it.
I was tested for the bacteria on Friday last week by my Midwife, and she told me that my results would be available a week later, or today. I went into my appointment today with Arthur knowing that I would find out as soon as we went back. They called my name and Arthur and I went back to get my vitals. They weighed me, and I had gained 3 lbs in 1 week. Yikes! Finn is growing and so am I. This is ok because I know that I can't beat myself up for something that I have little control over. She then took my blood pressure, and told me it was on the lower end, which is good. She then asked me if I wanted to know my Group B Strep results. I nearly screamed YES!
She fumbled for a second trying to find them and mumbled a bit about how they have had trouble over the past few days getting the results quickly from the lab. She then said that she had found them. She says "It looks like you are negative! Congratulations!" I started to cry. I was so happy. I saw my entire natural birth flash before my eyes and I was overjoyed. It was as if I had won the lottery. Arthur laughed at me a bit because of how emotional I got, but I can blame the hormones. :)
The rest of the day I have been on cloud 9. All of the stress I was feeling about my water breaking, and about being able to labor in a tub, and having to have an IV was gone.
This experience has reinforced my desire to be successful in my goal for a natural Hypnobirth. Instead of feeling anxious and nervous about Finn getting ready to be here, I am just now more excited. It's almost like a surprise, like waiting for something I'm wanting to come in the mail, or that feeling you get when you're meeting a blind date for the first time. Is that a crazy comparison? I don't know if I care, I'm just happy that today was such a great day! :)
YAY! Congrats on the negative results! I had Court before I could be tested, so I was treated like I had it and had to have the IV and stay an extra day in the hospital. I was negative with Hudson and it was so nice!
ReplyDeleteIn my birthing class, we were told that when our water breaks, we need to get to the hospital soon because, when the water breaks, the babies barrier from any kind of bacteria is gone. I like the 24 hr thing. Wish I had known that. Did you learn that in your hypno birth class?
Hi Brookie! Yes, I learned that in my Hypnobirth class. The truth about the bacteria that can be spread to the baby is most bacteria that is down there is safe and GBS is really the only one that has been proven to cause issues. Other bacteria introduced into that area comes from sex, or being checked repeatedly by a nurse for how far along you are. If you aren't checked, and you don't introduce anything into that area after your water breaks, then there is a very low risk that you will have an issue with bacteria. I've chosen not to be checked until I'm nearly feeling the need to push, which I hope is at a 9 or a 10.
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