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Our 11-day hospital stay started with what we thought was a bad case of gas and possibly her being colicky. We called the pediatrician a couple of hours after her not acting like herself. She was extremely fussy, inconsolable, and she started grunting like she was constipated. Her appetite was almost non-existent and not latching for long like she was struggling. I knew something wasn’t right about her. The pediatrician listened to her over the phone late that night and said she would like to see her in the morning especially due to her exposure to COVID in the home.
We get to the pediatrician that next morning and we are seen right away. The doctor tried all of her tips and tricks to relieve her “gas” but nothing was working. They tested her for RSV, Flu, and a rapid COVID test because she had a slight fever. RSV and flu came back negative. Phew! Now, we were waiting for the Covid results but before we could even get those back, our pediatrician told us we needed to get to Cooks immediately because she thinks Brielle is Septic. I thought to myself “This is just a bad case of gas. How is a bad case of gas turning her septic?! This makes no sense!” I remained calm and headed there.
We get to Cooks and they started doing a full work-up. We were not there long when the physician came in and started to tell me that we ARE doing a spinal tap to test for Meningitis and that her blood work was very concerning - her Procalcitonin levels, specifically. Procalcitonin is an inflammatory marker that indicates that there’s a bacterial infection. Normal Procalcitonin levels should be less than 2. Brielle’s were 40.4. The doctors and nurses were saying this was the highest they have seen Procalcitonin levels in an infant and that her levels were impressive (not in a good way.)
After lots of lab work and X-rays, they confirmed she was septic and we were being admitted for at least 10 days. Those 10 days start from the first day the cultures come back negative for growth of the bacteria. We started antibiotics to kill the bacteria and they were working hard. I began to see our spunky little girl become herself again. On day 7 of antibiotics, her Procalcitonin levels had dropped tremendously! They were at a .18!
Our pediatrician said that she had a case just like this in her residency which helped detect her being sepsis sooner than later. It blew my mind because I tested negative for GBS at 37 weeks pregnant and was induced at 39 weeks exactly. Brielle was diagnosed with late-onset Group B Strep Sepsis at 5 weeks old.
- Nicole
We get to the pediatrician that next morning and we are seen right away. The doctor tried all of her tips and tricks to relieve her “gas” but nothing was working. They tested her for RSV, Flu, and a rapid COVID test because she had a slight fever. RSV and flu came back negative. Phew! Now, we were waiting for the Covid results but before we could even get those back, our pediatrician told us we needed to get to Cooks immediately because she thinks Brielle is Septic. I thought to myself “This is just a bad case of gas. How is a bad case of gas turning her septic?! This makes no sense!” I remained calm and headed there.
We get to Cooks and they started doing a full work-up. We were not there long when the physician came in and started to tell me that we ARE doing a spinal tap to test for Meningitis and that her blood work was very concerning - her Procalcitonin levels, specifically. Procalcitonin is an inflammatory marker that indicates that there’s a bacterial infection. Normal Procalcitonin levels should be less than 2. Brielle’s were 40.4. The doctors and nurses were saying this was the highest they have seen Procalcitonin levels in an infant and that her levels were impressive (not in a good way.)
After lots of lab work and X-rays, they confirmed she was septic and we were being admitted for at least 10 days. Those 10 days start from the first day the cultures come back negative for growth of the bacteria. We started antibiotics to kill the bacteria and they were working hard. I began to see our spunky little girl become herself again. On day 7 of antibiotics, her Procalcitonin levels had dropped tremendously! They were at a .18!
Our pediatrician said that she had a case just like this in her residency which helped detect her being sepsis sooner than later. It blew my mind because I tested negative for GBS at 37 weeks pregnant and was induced at 39 weeks exactly. Brielle was diagnosed with late-onset Group B Strep Sepsis at 5 weeks old.
- Nicole
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First four photos left to right (or top to bottom for mobile): From the day we went to the hospital to the day we went home.
Far right (or bottom for mobile): Brielle at three 1/2 months of age.
Far right (or bottom for mobile): Brielle at three 1/2 months of age.
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.