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COLT — USA
Born August 30, 2018 Early-onset Mother's GBS Status: Negative Gestational Age: 39 weeks Age harmed: 1 day old |
I have been a labor and delivery nurse for three years now. I have seen and treated several patients that were GBS positive. I have also cared for babies born to mothers that were not treated in time, or too early in their pregnancies to be tested. However, I never realized just how detrimental GBS infection could be in a newborn until the birth of my own son.
I tested negative for GBS at my 36 week appointment and therefore received no treatment for it. My son was born at 39 weeks and 4 days. My beautiful, full term, seemingly healthy son took a turn for the worse after about 24 hours. He began having seizures during which he would stop breathing, it was truly the most terrifying thing I’ve ever witnessed. His behavior changed, he was very fussy, and inconsolable as the day progressed. After the first seizure, blood work and antibiotics were ordered. At this point no one knew exactly what was wrong.
My little one was flown to Le Bonheur and placed in the care of neurologists there. As labs resulted, we were informed that GBS was found in his bloodstream. I immediately began to sob, I tested negative, how could this even be possible? We spent the next 21 days in the NICU, receiving antibiotics through a PICC line and regular doses of anti-seizure medications. During his stay, he endured a lumbar puncture, MRI, and EEG along with dozens of other tests. Doctors wanted to check him for anything and everything. Slowly but surely he began to get better, my big boy is a SURVIVOR. I now have a happy and healthy 6 month old. I could have lost him, and I don’t want anyone else to feel as helpless as I did. I try my best to inform new mothers of the severity of GBS anytime I can.
- Kelsey C
Kelsey shares information with others by talking to patients about it since she's a labor and delivery nurse
I tested negative for GBS at my 36 week appointment and therefore received no treatment for it. My son was born at 39 weeks and 4 days. My beautiful, full term, seemingly healthy son took a turn for the worse after about 24 hours. He began having seizures during which he would stop breathing, it was truly the most terrifying thing I’ve ever witnessed. His behavior changed, he was very fussy, and inconsolable as the day progressed. After the first seizure, blood work and antibiotics were ordered. At this point no one knew exactly what was wrong.
My little one was flown to Le Bonheur and placed in the care of neurologists there. As labs resulted, we were informed that GBS was found in his bloodstream. I immediately began to sob, I tested negative, how could this even be possible? We spent the next 21 days in the NICU, receiving antibiotics through a PICC line and regular doses of anti-seizure medications. During his stay, he endured a lumbar puncture, MRI, and EEG along with dozens of other tests. Doctors wanted to check him for anything and everything. Slowly but surely he began to get better, my big boy is a SURVIVOR. I now have a happy and healthy 6 month old. I could have lost him, and I don’t want anyone else to feel as helpless as I did. I try my best to inform new mothers of the severity of GBS anytime I can.
- Kelsey C
Kelsey shares information with others by talking to patients about it since she's a labor and delivery nurse
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.