Group Beta Strep (GBS) Revisited: Updated Guidance for Pregnancy and Birth

In this episode, Sarah and Charli revisit Group B Streptococcus (GBS) in pregnancy, offering updated, evidence-based guidance on screening and treatment. They explain what GBS is, why it matters for newborns, and how current protocols (like antibiotics in labor) significantly reduce risk while also introducing important tradeoffs. The conversation explores both standard U.S. practices and alternative approaches used globally, emphasizing informed consent and individualized care. Listeners are encouraged to weigh the benefits, limitations, and unknowns in order to make decisions that align with their values and birth goals. Overall, the episode balances clinical insight with a thoughtful, empowering approach to decision-making.

Key Takeaways

• Sarah and Charli revisit Group B Strep with updated guidance on screening and treatment in pregnancy.
• They explain what GBS is, why it matters for newborns, and how antibiotics in labor reduce risk while bringing tradeoffs.
• The conversation compares standard U.S. practices with alternative approaches used in other countries.
• Listeners are encouraged to weigh benefits, limitations, and unknowns to make decisions that fit their values and birth goals.

If you like what you get here, you'll like our online childbirth education course even more. It's a more detailed look at the stages of labor, how to cope, and what to do along the way to set yourself up for success. It also shows partners what to expect from their point of view and what they can do to support you in labor.