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GRAHAM — USA
Born July 8, 2010 Late-onset Mother's GBS Status: Tested positive Gestational Age: 38 weeks Age Harmed: 5 weeks old |
Friday night....my husband was headed to the big football game across town. I had a rough day with my one and a half year old little girl and five week old little boy. He had been fussy, inconsolable, and would not nurse. It had progressed as the day went on. Also he had been grunting for days now. Everyone joked saying he already sounded like a man. He grunted so loud and so often that I had to sleep with him in the living room so he wouldn't wake Daddy. At his one month check up the pediatrician said that he was fine, babies make baby noises. While my husband was in the car headed to the ballgame I checked Graham's temperature. It was 103. I wasn't sure how much Tylenol to give him, so I called the doctor, who told me that he needed to go to the ER immediately.
They did a few spinal taps but could not get fluid; he was dehydrated....blood tests confirmed on Monday it was late-onset GBS. We aren't for certain that he had meningitis, but on that Friday he screamed when his neck would move or if I picked him up under the arms.....classic signs. But because they started antibiotics right away we won't know for sure. We transferred to a children's hospital Monday where Graham had to get a PICC line in his neck and was treated 14 days with fluids and antibiotics. I was totally unaware of my GBS status or what the symptoms of GBS are. It is my goal for everyone I know to be aware of the symptoms as within HOURS life can be lost or changed forever. Thank you God, for your mercy in my son's case.....he is acting just like a 6 month old should.....we were told to have his hearing and vision checked and rechecked and to watch for learning impairments. He is so sweet, so wonderful and the most loving baby boy. We are lucky.
— Sarah Gallman, SC, USA
Sarah shares GBS info by word of mouth but would LOVE to do more!!
They did a few spinal taps but could not get fluid; he was dehydrated....blood tests confirmed on Monday it was late-onset GBS. We aren't for certain that he had meningitis, but on that Friday he screamed when his neck would move or if I picked him up under the arms.....classic signs. But because they started antibiotics right away we won't know for sure. We transferred to a children's hospital Monday where Graham had to get a PICC line in his neck and was treated 14 days with fluids and antibiotics. I was totally unaware of my GBS status or what the symptoms of GBS are. It is my goal for everyone I know to be aware of the symptoms as within HOURS life can be lost or changed forever. Thank you God, for your mercy in my son's case.....he is acting just like a 6 month old should.....we were told to have his hearing and vision checked and rechecked and to watch for learning impairments. He is so sweet, so wonderful and the most loving baby boy. We are lucky.
— Sarah Gallman, SC, USA
Sarah shares GBS info by word of mouth but would LOVE to do more!!
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.