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BRAXTON MICHAEL CROSBY — USA
Born November 22, 2006 Early-onset Mother's GBS Status: Tested positive Gestational Age: 37 weeks gestation (c-section) Age harmed: 3 hours of age |
For three weeks prior to delivery, I felt anxious and was having contractions for 10 hours at a time. Everyday I would be checked for dilation but it never changed. Finally at 37 weeks I told the doctors I felt like there was something wrong and I couldn't take another day of this. Since I was scheduled for a c-section, they sent me over to the hospital to get me prepped for delivery. I was screened for GBS twice but I was never told the results. Braxton was born at 2:58 p.m. via c-section. He was 6lbs. 15oz. He was crying so hard I kept saying, "Is he okay?" They brought him over to me and I was able to see him for a moment. My husband went off to the nursery with him.
I went off to recovery. No one let me know anything was wrong. My mom showed up, then my dad showed up 39 minutes later. I asked who had my other boys and they said my brother came down early for Thanksgiving. I was confused. My husband was gone for hours. He never came to see me. Finally I asked if something was going on and everyone said all was fine. Four hours after delivery my husband came in and told me Braxton was having withdrawal symptoms and they thought it was from the five zoloft pills the doctor gave me to calm my anxiety and irritableness from Braxton-Hicks contractions. I couldn't believe I hurt my baby! I was so upset.
At 7 p.m. the neonatologists switched shifts. Jackie was now on. She said Braxton had to be shipped to Children's and he was really sick but didn't know why. She finally decided to take blood cultures and started him on ampicillin and vancomyicin as a precaution. He was shipped the next morning.
My insurance would not transfer me to Children's Hospital to be with my son. I had to stay back but my OBGYN let me leave the next morning with 20 staples and pain medication. Our family pediatrician came to visit me and I said that I was in too much pain to leave the hospital so early. He told me that I had to be with my son and I could do it. That scared me so I did it.
I was discharged and went straight to see Braxton. He had four IVs and all the monitors and an NG tube. It was hard to see. I was driving an hour both ways two times a day. Finally on the third day the neonatologist told me that Braxton was infected with GBS. I immediately went to the OBGYN and asked what happened. They had no explanation. They thought maybe a high leak in the sac. I never even knew I was a carrier. This was my third pregnancy and the first time I ever carried GBS.
Braxton is now 2.5 and is healthy. He does have Childhood Apraxia of Speech, which could be a neurological defect due to the sepsis or the medications. He also has some behavorial issues that we are addressing.
I am so thankful to have my little boy, but I still want to know how he got this! I didn't have any symptoms of ROM...NONE. He was a c-section. My fluid levels were normal at birth. The neonatologist said if I was pregnant for an additional 24 hours, he would have never survived. I thank God everyday for my persistence.
— Michelle Crosby, NY, USA
I went off to recovery. No one let me know anything was wrong. My mom showed up, then my dad showed up 39 minutes later. I asked who had my other boys and they said my brother came down early for Thanksgiving. I was confused. My husband was gone for hours. He never came to see me. Finally I asked if something was going on and everyone said all was fine. Four hours after delivery my husband came in and told me Braxton was having withdrawal symptoms and they thought it was from the five zoloft pills the doctor gave me to calm my anxiety and irritableness from Braxton-Hicks contractions. I couldn't believe I hurt my baby! I was so upset.
At 7 p.m. the neonatologists switched shifts. Jackie was now on. She said Braxton had to be shipped to Children's and he was really sick but didn't know why. She finally decided to take blood cultures and started him on ampicillin and vancomyicin as a precaution. He was shipped the next morning.
My insurance would not transfer me to Children's Hospital to be with my son. I had to stay back but my OBGYN let me leave the next morning with 20 staples and pain medication. Our family pediatrician came to visit me and I said that I was in too much pain to leave the hospital so early. He told me that I had to be with my son and I could do it. That scared me so I did it.
I was discharged and went straight to see Braxton. He had four IVs and all the monitors and an NG tube. It was hard to see. I was driving an hour both ways two times a day. Finally on the third day the neonatologist told me that Braxton was infected with GBS. I immediately went to the OBGYN and asked what happened. They had no explanation. They thought maybe a high leak in the sac. I never even knew I was a carrier. This was my third pregnancy and the first time I ever carried GBS.
Braxton is now 2.5 and is healthy. He does have Childhood Apraxia of Speech, which could be a neurological defect due to the sepsis or the medications. He also has some behavorial issues that we are addressing.
I am so thankful to have my little boy, but I still want to know how he got this! I didn't have any symptoms of ROM...NONE. He was a c-section. My fluid levels were normal at birth. The neonatologist said if I was pregnant for an additional 24 hours, he would have never survived. I thank God everyday for my persistence.
— Michelle Crosby, NY, 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.