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ANDREW - USA
Born November 9, 2001 Early-onset Mother's GBS Status: Tested negative Gestational Age: 39 weeks 4 days Age Harmed: Within 3 hours of being born |
I was tested at 37 weeks for GBS and tested negative. Within 3 hours of Andrew being born he was having problems breathing.
Due to my negative GBS test it took the doctors four days to test him for it. During this time he was on two different antibiotics with no results. Also, during this time he developed pneumonia and had to be put in an oxygen hood with heart rate, pulse ox, and breathing monitors put on him to alert the nurses when his breathing rate went too low. I was told on day three that if they were not able to find out what was wrong with him that I needed to prepare myself for his death.
Once he was officially diagnosed GBS positive his little body was on the verge of collapse. The doctors had to move his IV five times in the first five days of him being on the proper antibiotic because his veins kept collapsing due to dehydration. They eventually decided to shave the side of his head and put the IV there only to have that site infuse and become unusable. I had to watch and listen as my child became a human pin cushion, and there was nothing that I could do to help him.
Once he was stable I spent all of my free time in the NICU holding his tiny fingers, and stroking his head. He had so many tubes and wires that it was impossible to hold him without fear that I would dislodge the one and only IV that they had managed to get in without incident.
It was on day 8 that I was finally allowed to hold and feed my beautiful son. That is a day that holds as special a place in my heart as the day he was born.
I brought my survivor home the day before Thanksgiving with one very special baby boy to be thankful for.
— Linda Brown, USA
Due to my negative GBS test it took the doctors four days to test him for it. During this time he was on two different antibiotics with no results. Also, during this time he developed pneumonia and had to be put in an oxygen hood with heart rate, pulse ox, and breathing monitors put on him to alert the nurses when his breathing rate went too low. I was told on day three that if they were not able to find out what was wrong with him that I needed to prepare myself for his death.
Once he was officially diagnosed GBS positive his little body was on the verge of collapse. The doctors had to move his IV five times in the first five days of him being on the proper antibiotic because his veins kept collapsing due to dehydration. They eventually decided to shave the side of his head and put the IV there only to have that site infuse and become unusable. I had to watch and listen as my child became a human pin cushion, and there was nothing that I could do to help him.
Once he was stable I spent all of my free time in the NICU holding his tiny fingers, and stroking his head. He had so many tubes and wires that it was impossible to hold him without fear that I would dislodge the one and only IV that they had managed to get in without incident.
It was on day 8 that I was finally allowed to hold and feed my beautiful son. That is a day that holds as special a place in my heart as the day he was born.
I brought my survivor home the day before Thanksgiving with one very special baby boy to be thankful for.
— Linda Brown, USA
To learn more about Perinatal & GBS Misconceptions, click HERE.
To learn more about the Signs & Symptoms of Preterm Labor, click HERE.
To learn more about the Signs & Symptoms of GBS Infection, click HERE.
To learn more about Why Membranes Should NOT Be Stripped, click HERE.
To learn more about How to Help Protect Your Baby from Group B Strep (GBS), click HERE.
To learn more about the Signs & Symptoms of Preterm Labor, click HERE.
To learn more about the Signs & Symptoms of GBS Infection, click HERE.
To learn more about Why Membranes Should NOT Be Stripped, click HERE.
To learn more about How to Help Protect Your Baby from Group B Strep (GBS), click HERE.