"The best-laid plans of mice and men...

...often go awry." Though Steinbeck wrote that line in a decidedly no-child context (in Of Mice and Men if you were wondering) - I think the quote is supremely applicable to the birth and child rearing process.

I was most recently reminded of this today, when I learned that I tested positive for Group B Strep. This is a normally-occurring bug that lives in most people; it's not even an issue...unless you're about to have a baby.

Then, it can be very serious for the newborn (meningitis, sepsis, death - no kidding) - IF the newborn gets it - which, in my case, I am of course determined to avoid. Problem is, avoidance isn't very easy - and there are no guarantees.

I'll start on a 'probiotic cocktail' ASAP - which I'll have to keep up until birth. Then, sometime in the next coupla weeks, I'll get re-tested, and if the test is negative - great, I still get to keep up the probiotics. If I test positive...I wouldn't necessarily have to do anything in the birth; but I will likely ask for intravenous antibiotics - Penicillin, most likely.

I'm glad I'm planning a home birth. Why? Because they'd give me the same antibiotics in the hospital...but without the prior probiotics. Add to that, the unpleasant thought that bugs lurking 'round the hospital are known to be Penicillin-resistant, and the stuff in my home is most likely decidedly low-tech - e.g. Penicillin can still kill it.

Now I just have to hope/plan/assume that this baby doesn't come too early - need to give the probiotics some time to do their magic.

More nice photos of little Ante James:



In other news, my sister goes home from the hospital on Tuesday in Chicago; my mom should be there already to help her out. Looking forward to lots more photos of little "AJ" from their time together!