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HUNTER — AUSTRALIA
September 13, 2022 - September 24, 2023 Early-onset (Hunter's doctors believe the onset was more typical of late-onset infection) Mother's GBS Status: Tested negative Gestational Age: 39 weeks Age harmed: 4 days of age |
I had a relatively easy pregnancy with Hunter up until 37 weeks. Even then, it was nothing crazy. I noticed fewer kicks at 37.5 weeks so went in for a CTG which showed his heart rate was a little high. They suspected I was dehydrated so I drank water and waited for his heart rate to go back to normal. During this CTG, however, they noticed that I was having contractions every 10 minutes. I was sent home to wait. They got a little worse, but then stopped overnight.
A couple of days later I got an unexplained fever and spent the night in hospital on fluids. The doctors took bloods which showed elevated CRP, but this went down after a night on fluids so I went home.
I was in and out of labor for 1.5 weeks and finally my waters broke at 39 weeks. They were a little green so they were monitoring him the whole labor. Six hours after my waters broke, his heart rate wasn't right and I had a temperature, so they used the ventouse to get him out quickly.
After this everything was good, my temp returned to normal and he appeared healthy.
On day 4, the midwife came around at 12:30pm and he fed well and passed all his checks. He appeared perfectly healthy.
After this he stopped feeding, was lethargic and moaning. His 12:30 feed was his first milk feed and afterwards he did his first poo since day 1, so we figured he was just comfortable.
I took him to the hospital at 7pm as I was worried he still wouldn't feed. They checked his blood sugars and jaundice levels and said he was just a 'chill' baby who wasn't hungry yet and he would drink when he was. We returned home and waited, but by 2:30am I knew something was wrong as he still wouldn't feed and would aggressively hold his head backwards while I tried. (I now know this was a seizure). We rushed back to hospital and his condition escalated extremely fast. They put him on antibiotics immediately and by 9am he was sedated for the seizures and flown to the city. (We live regionally.) The medical team was amazing, but, unfortunately, the infection had developed into meningitis and sepsis. His body was fighting the infection; however, he had suffered irreversible brain damage in all his major function areas and the doctors were regretful, but confident, he would never have been able to walk, talk, learn, communicate or control his body movements, among other health issues.
Our baby boy passed in our arms at 11 days old.
- Astyn Reid
I am learning as much about it as possible now. I am currently 9 weeks pregnant and am using education as one way to try and ease my anxiety. I will be spreading awareness starting with my family and close friends who will be visiting this baby.
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.