Did you know that 1 in 4 pregnant people carry Group B Strep (GBS)? You might be wondering why we don’t hear about it until we’re pregnant? You may also be wondering if it’s dangerous, if there’s anything you can do to prevent it, and if you have it, how does it affect your and your baby’s care.
In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, I speak to professor and neonatologist Dr. Tara M. Randis all about Group B Strep. From screening, to symptoms, and treatment Dr. Randis covers everything you need to know to understand GBS. This episode sheds light and lots of answers on this little known but common condition.
In this episode you will learn:
- Learn about Tara, what led her to focus on neonatology and join the board of directors for Group B Strep International.
- What is Group B Strep?
- How common is it?
- How Group B Strep can affect you during pregnancy and birth.
- What kind of treatments are available for you and baby during pregnancy and birth.
- When you should be screened for GBS and when care providers routinely screen for GBS.
- How you can be negative for GBS at one screening and positive at the next screening.
- Cesarean Birth and GBS.
- Is there anything that would lead to a false negative in a screening?
- Is there anything you can do to prevent GBS?
- How GBS can be treated?
- Signs of GBS and what to do if you’re experiencing these symptoms.
- Why stripping of the membranes isn’t recommended for people with GBS.
- How GBS impacts newborns and ways to protect them.
- You have GBS, now what? Birth protocols for a person who has GBS.
- One tip/piece of advice Dr. Randis has for new and expectant parents.
- Where you can find Dr. Randis’ work and connect with her.
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About Dr. Tara M. Randis:
Dr Tara M. Randis is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Molecular Medicine at the University of South Florida, and Chief of the Division of Neonatology. She is a graduate of the University of Scranton and received her MD from Drexel University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She completed her pediatric residency training at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, before pursing her fellowship training in neonatal-perinatal medicine at Columbia University. In 2011, she earned a MS degree in biostatistics from the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University. She is an active member of the Society for Pediatric Research, American Pediatric Society and The Perinatal Research Society. Her research focuses on the mechanisms of bacterial colonization of the female reproductive tract as it relates to adverse pregnancy outcomes including preterm labor and neonatal infections. She currently resides in Tampa, FL with her husband and three children.
Additional Resources:
- Group B Strep International
- Instagram: @groupbstrep & @RandisTara
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