GBS and water birth

[cdj1]

Hi girls

I am hoping for a natural birth in the water. Does anyone know if you refuse a GBS test (we get tested as routine here in the Channel Isles) then you cant birth in the water? I cant see any reason why it should be an issue?
I have decided to decline this test for my own reasons.

Thanks x

 

[JenStar1976]

Can't see why not. I was never offered a test and I had a home water birth. Even if you tested positive you can still birth at home. https://www.homebirth.org.uk/gbs.htm x

 

[KandyKinz]

There's absolutely no reason why you cannot have a water birth if you are GBS unknown.
There's also no reason why you can't have a water birth if you are GBS positive. In fact there was a few studies that have suggested that water births might actually be protective against GBS as the water dilutes the bacteria which reduces the amount of bacteria the baby is exposed to. Here's a link to the abstract of one of the studies.

https://www.springerlink.com/content/313mv1n3m8610140/