EMMA - USA
Stillborn June 15, 2012
Prenatal-onset
Mother's GBS Status: Tested positive
Gestational Age: 20 weeks
Age Harmed: 20 weeks gestation
I had back to back pregnancies. I lost Emma at 20 weeks in 2012 and Braiden at 17 weeks in 2013. For both babies I went in for a normal appointment and no heartbeat could be found. I gave birth, and both autopsies showed GBS as cause of death since the babies had GBS in their hearts. I was told after Emma that this was a once in a lifetime thing to happen and it would not happen again.
It took a year to get pregnant with Braiden and I was tested at 13 weeks for GBS which was positive and I was given antibiotics. The next test at 15 weeks was negative and when I went in at 17 weeks he had died. He was kicking like a crazy the day before, so he ended up dying on my daughter's birthday who was with us because we were finding out the sex of the baby that day.
A few months after the death I received a phone call from the Health Department stating that I should have had daily antibiotics starting at 10 weeks. This was highly upsetting. I now have an infectious disease doctor (high-risk), daily antibiotics and progesterone. The doctors tell me that they have never experienced this and have no idea if this will work next time or if I will lose another baby and I am terrified.
Update: We have now had three losses due to GBS. If you have any ideas to share with my OB, please email [email protected].
— Staci Shockley, USA
Visit Staci's "What If We Had Known . . . ?" campaign in tribute to Emma HERE!
Stillborn June 15, 2012
Prenatal-onset
Mother's GBS Status: Tested positive
Gestational Age: 20 weeks
Age Harmed: 20 weeks gestation
I had back to back pregnancies. I lost Emma at 20 weeks in 2012 and Braiden at 17 weeks in 2013. For both babies I went in for a normal appointment and no heartbeat could be found. I gave birth, and both autopsies showed GBS as cause of death since the babies had GBS in their hearts. I was told after Emma that this was a once in a lifetime thing to happen and it would not happen again.
It took a year to get pregnant with Braiden and I was tested at 13 weeks for GBS which was positive and I was given antibiotics. The next test at 15 weeks was negative and when I went in at 17 weeks he had died. He was kicking like a crazy the day before, so he ended up dying on my daughter's birthday who was with us because we were finding out the sex of the baby that day.
A few months after the death I received a phone call from the Health Department stating that I should have had daily antibiotics starting at 10 weeks. This was highly upsetting. I now have an infectious disease doctor (high-risk), daily antibiotics and progesterone. The doctors tell me that they have never experienced this and have no idea if this will work next time or if I will lose another baby and I am terrified.
Update: We have now had three losses due to GBS. If you have any ideas to share with my OB, please email [email protected].
— Staci Shockley, USA
Visit Staci's "What If We Had Known . . . ?" campaign in tribute to Emma HERE!
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.