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HUXTON — USA
Born March 20, 2020 Late-onset Mother's GBS Status: Tested negative Gestational Age: 39 weeks Age harmed: 11 days old |
On March 20, 2020, my beautiful baby boy was born. I was induced at 39 weeks due to extreme back pain and discomfort. Everything with delivery went great except some issues with the epidural. We were able to bring Huxton home for 11 days. During that time, he presented with extreme jaundice and we were told it would go away without any form of treatment.
On March 31, 2020, Huxton woke up and would not eat and was groaning. I thought he was constipated and had a tummy ache (sign of GBS that I was never educated on). I messaged the doctor and they informed me on how to go about treating his constipation. By 12:30pm his groaning became constant and he was pale yellow. I rushed him to the emergency room where he was examined. Small town ER very slow to process what was going on. His bilirubin levels were dangerously high at this point and he was needing oxygen to assist his breathing. A helicopter flew in from a big city and airlifted him to a more equipped hospital. I arrived at the hospital at 6pm and he was surrounded by NICU staff all trying to get him stable.
That night they did a blood transfusion due to his high bilirubin levels. The next morning he was put on a ventilator because he had moments where he stopped breathing. They did a spinal puncture and many other tests, and they discovered he had been infected with GBS. The infection was in his blood and spinal fluid causing meningitis. They started antibiotics right away and worked on treating all the symptoms that were occurring. His main battle along with the infection was seizures. For one full week we prayed day and night that he would remain stable and continue to show improvements. After a week, he was off oxygen, seizures were in control, and there was no more infection. He continued antibiotics for the next 2 weeks in the NICU. An MRI showed signs of brain damage that could potentially affect him later in life. Only time will tell as he grows and develops.
On April 21, 2020 he was discharged from the hospital and we were so happy that we were able to bring our baby boy home! We know not everyone that has a little one infected with GBS is as fortunate. I didn't realize that my baby could be at risk for this infection because I tested negative during pregnancy. The doctors kept saying that if I would have waited one more day our outcome would have been different. I wish I would have been educated on the seriousness of GBS, the risk of my baby being infected even when you test negative, and warning signs after you bring baby home. I watched educational videos in the hospital but none addressed GBS. I believe women need to be informed more about this and it needs to be addressed more. I was tested yes, but that didn't mean my baby was in the clear. I feel women need to be tested more frequently in the third trimester to try and prevent situations like mine. I love how awareness is spreading and want to share my story to help prevent others from going though something similar! Ask your OBGYN to fully inform you about GBS- its important!
- Sarah
I have just started to spread awareness through FB and sharing my story with people
On March 31, 2020, Huxton woke up and would not eat and was groaning. I thought he was constipated and had a tummy ache (sign of GBS that I was never educated on). I messaged the doctor and they informed me on how to go about treating his constipation. By 12:30pm his groaning became constant and he was pale yellow. I rushed him to the emergency room where he was examined. Small town ER very slow to process what was going on. His bilirubin levels were dangerously high at this point and he was needing oxygen to assist his breathing. A helicopter flew in from a big city and airlifted him to a more equipped hospital. I arrived at the hospital at 6pm and he was surrounded by NICU staff all trying to get him stable.
That night they did a blood transfusion due to his high bilirubin levels. The next morning he was put on a ventilator because he had moments where he stopped breathing. They did a spinal puncture and many other tests, and they discovered he had been infected with GBS. The infection was in his blood and spinal fluid causing meningitis. They started antibiotics right away and worked on treating all the symptoms that were occurring. His main battle along with the infection was seizures. For one full week we prayed day and night that he would remain stable and continue to show improvements. After a week, he was off oxygen, seizures were in control, and there was no more infection. He continued antibiotics for the next 2 weeks in the NICU. An MRI showed signs of brain damage that could potentially affect him later in life. Only time will tell as he grows and develops.
On April 21, 2020 he was discharged from the hospital and we were so happy that we were able to bring our baby boy home! We know not everyone that has a little one infected with GBS is as fortunate. I didn't realize that my baby could be at risk for this infection because I tested negative during pregnancy. The doctors kept saying that if I would have waited one more day our outcome would have been different. I wish I would have been educated on the seriousness of GBS, the risk of my baby being infected even when you test negative, and warning signs after you bring baby home. I watched educational videos in the hospital but none addressed GBS. I believe women need to be informed more about this and it needs to be addressed more. I was tested yes, but that didn't mean my baby was in the clear. I feel women need to be tested more frequently in the third trimester to try and prevent situations like mine. I love how awareness is spreading and want to share my story to help prevent others from going though something similar! Ask your OBGYN to fully inform you about GBS- its important!
- Sarah
I have just started to spread awareness through FB and sharing my story with people
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.