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CADEN — USA
Born August 8, 2017 Early-onset Mother's GBS Status: Tested negative Gestational Age: 37 weeks, two days Age Harmed: at birth |
There are so many stories of loss when it comes to having a GBS infected baby, I feel privileged to share a story of survival. Although there are so many more details to this story, here are the basics.
At 33 weeks, I went into preterm labor. At this time, I was prophylactically given IV antibiotics because I had not yet been tested for GBS. When I was tested, the results came back negative. Fast forward to 37 weeks when I went into labor again. The day prior I had an appointment with my midwife and she had done another GBS test since it had been several weeks. These test results, which came back positive, weren’t resulted until I was in transition, so no IV antibiotics were given based on my previous negative status. Caden was born on Tuesday, August 8, 2017 at 11:46am.
By late afternoon, we were already having difficulty with feeding, but I was assured that this was normal as a first-time mom and that he just didn’t have a good latch. He was very unsettled, grunty, sensitive to light and didn’t like being handled too much. The following day was more of the same, but none of the medical staff seemed concerned. By Thursday (discharge day), Caden began refusing feeds altogether and we noticed some unusual eye movement and breathing issues. The lactation consultant was uneasy with this and sent him to the nursery for observation. (Later we found out that my +GBS status was never updated in the computer since I was negative at 33 weeks, and therefore there was no flag in Caden’s chart!) After several x-rays and a consult with a neonatologist, they concluded that he was cleared for discharge, and we were instructed to return to the ER if he didn’t improve.
We did end up returning to the ER that night because his symptoms had gotten worse throughout the evening. He had started letting out these high-pitched painful cries, was continuously moaning, and uninterested in nursing, but we were brushed off as “first time parents” even though we mentioned several times that I was GBS positive and not treated with antibiotics during labor. They again discharged us, completely ignoring our concerns.
By the following morning, Caden had developed a fever. Back to the ER we went. This time, finally, a complete workup was done and he was eventually diagnosed with GBS sepsis and meningitis. Those following days/nights in the NICU all we could do was pray that God would heal him…we came so close to losing him. He was having seizures and stopped breathing several times, so he was sedated with anti-seizure medication and put on a ventilator. He ended up spending a total of 4 weeks in the NICU for treatment. During this time he received antibiotics through a PICC line, was on regular antiseizure medication, had several MRI’s, numerous lumbar punctures, EEG’s and dozens of other tests.
Now, Caden is a happy, loving, energetic 2-year-old. We continue follow ups with the developmental team and his neurologist who has just recently diagnosed him with a mild hemiparetic cerebral palsy. He has had several subsequent seizures, but thankfully they seem to be spacing out. Considering his delay in initial diagnosis and treatment we are very blessed that the long-term effects seem to be mild.
– Brenda F.
At 33 weeks, I went into preterm labor. At this time, I was prophylactically given IV antibiotics because I had not yet been tested for GBS. When I was tested, the results came back negative. Fast forward to 37 weeks when I went into labor again. The day prior I had an appointment with my midwife and she had done another GBS test since it had been several weeks. These test results, which came back positive, weren’t resulted until I was in transition, so no IV antibiotics were given based on my previous negative status. Caden was born on Tuesday, August 8, 2017 at 11:46am.
By late afternoon, we were already having difficulty with feeding, but I was assured that this was normal as a first-time mom and that he just didn’t have a good latch. He was very unsettled, grunty, sensitive to light and didn’t like being handled too much. The following day was more of the same, but none of the medical staff seemed concerned. By Thursday (discharge day), Caden began refusing feeds altogether and we noticed some unusual eye movement and breathing issues. The lactation consultant was uneasy with this and sent him to the nursery for observation. (Later we found out that my +GBS status was never updated in the computer since I was negative at 33 weeks, and therefore there was no flag in Caden’s chart!) After several x-rays and a consult with a neonatologist, they concluded that he was cleared for discharge, and we were instructed to return to the ER if he didn’t improve.
We did end up returning to the ER that night because his symptoms had gotten worse throughout the evening. He had started letting out these high-pitched painful cries, was continuously moaning, and uninterested in nursing, but we were brushed off as “first time parents” even though we mentioned several times that I was GBS positive and not treated with antibiotics during labor. They again discharged us, completely ignoring our concerns.
By the following morning, Caden had developed a fever. Back to the ER we went. This time, finally, a complete workup was done and he was eventually diagnosed with GBS sepsis and meningitis. Those following days/nights in the NICU all we could do was pray that God would heal him…we came so close to losing him. He was having seizures and stopped breathing several times, so he was sedated with anti-seizure medication and put on a ventilator. He ended up spending a total of 4 weeks in the NICU for treatment. During this time he received antibiotics through a PICC line, was on regular antiseizure medication, had several MRI’s, numerous lumbar punctures, EEG’s and dozens of other tests.
Now, Caden is a happy, loving, energetic 2-year-old. We continue follow ups with the developmental team and his neurologist who has just recently diagnosed him with a mild hemiparetic cerebral palsy. He has had several subsequent seizures, but thankfully they seem to be spacing out. Considering his delay in initial diagnosis and treatment we are very blessed that the long-term effects seem to be mild.
– Brenda F.
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.