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ELLA ALMA FROST - UK
Stillborn July 10, 2011 Prenatal-onset Mother's GBS Status: Not tested Gestational Age: 41 weeks and 2 days Age Harmed: Full Term |
On the 10th July 2011, we lost our firstborn baby, Ella Alma Frost during labour. No words can ever express the heartbreaking devastation we feel and we will never be the same without her in our lives.
I had an AMAZING pregnancy with all our scans and measurements spot on. We were SO excited about our new arrival and had no idea what we were having. I joyfully updated Facebook daily with my peanut progress, and so all our family and friends felt like they were a part of my pregnancy.
I was in latent labour from the 4th of July and we were sent home from the hospital twice assured that everything was progressing as expected... I eventually I went into established labour and was admitted to the maternity ward at QA hospital in Portsmouth, UK on that Sunday morning. I had a fantastic, text book labour; in the birthing pool and reaching 10cm dilated. Baby Frost was almost here! Sadly we then lost her heartbeat, after many different midwives and doctors tried to find it. It was too late, Ella passed away minutes before her birth.
We found out 11 weeks later that it was due to Group B Strep - the three words that now haunt & define our lives. The consultant who told us what she had died from, didn't really know a lot about it but told me 'not to worry because next time they would give me antibiotics during labour and everything will be fine'?!
We had never heard of GBS before or the danger it poses to babies, especially during pregnancy and the first few hours of a baby's life. I would have got myself tested privately (as our precious NHS refuses to test us!) if someone had bothered to mention it!
Now we spend most of our time raising awareness in the UK & campaigning the powers that be to introduce screening!
We hope to repeat the USA GBS groups' amazing achievements here in the UK, in memory of our Ella and all the babies in heaven that shouldn't be there, with love to you all x
— Natalie and Mike Frost, UK
Natalie and Mike have had articles in their local newspaper 8 times & also in UK national women's magazine Take a Break. They are also working with their local MP to promote awareness with their campaign to introduce routine screening in the UK.
I had an AMAZING pregnancy with all our scans and measurements spot on. We were SO excited about our new arrival and had no idea what we were having. I joyfully updated Facebook daily with my peanut progress, and so all our family and friends felt like they were a part of my pregnancy.
I was in latent labour from the 4th of July and we were sent home from the hospital twice assured that everything was progressing as expected... I eventually I went into established labour and was admitted to the maternity ward at QA hospital in Portsmouth, UK on that Sunday morning. I had a fantastic, text book labour; in the birthing pool and reaching 10cm dilated. Baby Frost was almost here! Sadly we then lost her heartbeat, after many different midwives and doctors tried to find it. It was too late, Ella passed away minutes before her birth.
We found out 11 weeks later that it was due to Group B Strep - the three words that now haunt & define our lives. The consultant who told us what she had died from, didn't really know a lot about it but told me 'not to worry because next time they would give me antibiotics during labour and everything will be fine'?!
We had never heard of GBS before or the danger it poses to babies, especially during pregnancy and the first few hours of a baby's life. I would have got myself tested privately (as our precious NHS refuses to test us!) if someone had bothered to mention it!
Now we spend most of our time raising awareness in the UK & campaigning the powers that be to introduce screening!
We hope to repeat the USA GBS groups' amazing achievements here in the UK, in memory of our Ella and all the babies in heaven that shouldn't be there, with love to you all x
— Natalie and Mike Frost, UK
Natalie and Mike have had articles in their local newspaper 8 times & also in UK national women's magazine Take a Break. They are also working with their local MP to promote awareness with their campaign to introduce routine screening in the UK.
Photos of Natalia during her pregnancy with Ella
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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.