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KAELAS JOHN — AUSTRALIA
Born July 26, 2020 Early-onset Mother's GBS Status: Not tested Gestational Age: 37 weeks, 4 days Age harmed: At birth |
In December 2019 we found out we were pregnant with our baby expected to arrive on August 12 2020.
I feel very fortunate to say I enjoyed my pregnancy. I had very few symptoms - and other than feeling a bit more tired than usual, and a few extra headaches, I really felt like I was on cloud 9, and was amazed by the fact I had a little human growing inside of me. My pregnancy was a breeze, bub was growing as expected and no abnormalities that stood out, until the third trimester.
I was part of an MVP program and at 34 weeks we began weekly check-ins with our midwives. On July 8th, my belly was measuring smaller than expected so my midwife requested an ultrasound, everything seemed fine. On July 15th, my belly measured the same size, so I went for a second ultrasound. This time bub had not gained much weight from the previous scan and it was suggested that as I was 37weeks it would be best for bub to come out rather than staying in, in case there was a reason he wasn't getting the nutrients he needed to grow.
I was booked in for an induction to begin Friday, and expected to have bub in our arms by Saturday.
I was 37 weeks, but felt nowhere near ready to give birth, I was expecting well and truly to go over. The balloon was used as a method of induction, but my body just wasn't ready - it took 7 hrs hours to get my body to cooperate, and once it did I felt sick, vomited and went into a bit of shock. One of the midwives mentioned in 20 years she has never seen it take that long or be that intense. I was given the option of a cesarean multiple times, but as a first time Mum I was determined to give it my all for a natural birth.
Saturday morning came and the balloon was removed with the goal of opening my cervix. Alas, my body didn't seem ready. My waters were forcibly broken at 10am July 25. When nothing happened I was given the drip that forces contractions to help speed up the process. It was an intense 13 hrs in labor with nothing to show for it, as my cervix only dilated to 1.8cm.
Throughout my labor my temp spiked up to 41°C at the highest, and I became somewhat delirious. It must have been sometime around 10:30 - 11pm when they decided an emergency cesarean was the only way to go.
On Sunday the 26th of July, at 1:17am we welcomed our precious first born Kaelas earthside. I'm still not sure how I felt in that moment as it has been an intense few days with very little sleep leading up to it. I was exhausted, overwhelmed and somewhat out of it.
Straight after being patched up, both Kaelas and I had blood cultures done. As far as we were aware that must have been the normal procedure.
That Sunday was bittersweet, being able to hold our precious 2.5kg baby boy in our arms. Everything seemed fine, other than Kaelas's temperature being a bit lower than expected, which we were told isn't too abnormal for newborns. He was placed on my chest to keep warm.
Dad left at 7:30pm to go home and get some sleep. At 8pm a doctor and nurse entered the room and said Kaelas was sick and needed to be taken to special care nursery asap. I've never felt so confused or scared in my life. The doctor helped me into a wheelchair and I headed down to the nursery with them. The doctor explained to me that because my temp was so high throughout labor that was the reason for blood cultures. Both myself and Kaelas tested positive for Group B Strep.
We didn't know how serious it was to start so they began to treat him with the strongest antibiotics just incase. The next few days were rough. Kaelas had multiple cannulas as they never seemed to stay in and 4 failed lumbar puncture attempts to find out the severity of GBS infection. Finally the 5th attempt worked. The result was sepsis, and we were finally able to mark a go home date.
On the 7th of August 2020, Kaelas came home with us. He is now 16 months with no ongoing medical conditions, and thriving as an extremely active little toddler.
It took me 12 months to be able to share Kaelas's birth story with others as I found it hard not to blame myself. I now hope to raise awareness and encourage women to request GBS testing throughout their pregnancies.
In Brisbane, Australia it is up to the medical professionals to decide to test for GBS. Many won't test when the pregnancy is so low-risk. I was never tested. My placenta was sent away for testing but came back with no traces of GBS. I was told Kaelas's size reduction in the womb was nothing to do with GBS. I do wonder if the insertion of the balloon, or the drip, or the stress and anxiety I felt from being told he needed to come out contributed to contracting or igniting GBS, but guess I will never truly know.
I know we are one of the lucky ones to come out of this journey unscathed. We count our blessings everyday, as our thoughts are with every parent who has lost a child to GBS
-Kaila
I have shared a few stories on my Facebook page. It took me a while to speak about and not blame myself.
I feel very fortunate to say I enjoyed my pregnancy. I had very few symptoms - and other than feeling a bit more tired than usual, and a few extra headaches, I really felt like I was on cloud 9, and was amazed by the fact I had a little human growing inside of me. My pregnancy was a breeze, bub was growing as expected and no abnormalities that stood out, until the third trimester.
I was part of an MVP program and at 34 weeks we began weekly check-ins with our midwives. On July 8th, my belly was measuring smaller than expected so my midwife requested an ultrasound, everything seemed fine. On July 15th, my belly measured the same size, so I went for a second ultrasound. This time bub had not gained much weight from the previous scan and it was suggested that as I was 37weeks it would be best for bub to come out rather than staying in, in case there was a reason he wasn't getting the nutrients he needed to grow.
I was booked in for an induction to begin Friday, and expected to have bub in our arms by Saturday.
I was 37 weeks, but felt nowhere near ready to give birth, I was expecting well and truly to go over. The balloon was used as a method of induction, but my body just wasn't ready - it took 7 hrs hours to get my body to cooperate, and once it did I felt sick, vomited and went into a bit of shock. One of the midwives mentioned in 20 years she has never seen it take that long or be that intense. I was given the option of a cesarean multiple times, but as a first time Mum I was determined to give it my all for a natural birth.
Saturday morning came and the balloon was removed with the goal of opening my cervix. Alas, my body didn't seem ready. My waters were forcibly broken at 10am July 25. When nothing happened I was given the drip that forces contractions to help speed up the process. It was an intense 13 hrs in labor with nothing to show for it, as my cervix only dilated to 1.8cm.
Throughout my labor my temp spiked up to 41°C at the highest, and I became somewhat delirious. It must have been sometime around 10:30 - 11pm when they decided an emergency cesarean was the only way to go.
On Sunday the 26th of July, at 1:17am we welcomed our precious first born Kaelas earthside. I'm still not sure how I felt in that moment as it has been an intense few days with very little sleep leading up to it. I was exhausted, overwhelmed and somewhat out of it.
Straight after being patched up, both Kaelas and I had blood cultures done. As far as we were aware that must have been the normal procedure.
That Sunday was bittersweet, being able to hold our precious 2.5kg baby boy in our arms. Everything seemed fine, other than Kaelas's temperature being a bit lower than expected, which we were told isn't too abnormal for newborns. He was placed on my chest to keep warm.
Dad left at 7:30pm to go home and get some sleep. At 8pm a doctor and nurse entered the room and said Kaelas was sick and needed to be taken to special care nursery asap. I've never felt so confused or scared in my life. The doctor helped me into a wheelchair and I headed down to the nursery with them. The doctor explained to me that because my temp was so high throughout labor that was the reason for blood cultures. Both myself and Kaelas tested positive for Group B Strep.
We didn't know how serious it was to start so they began to treat him with the strongest antibiotics just incase. The next few days were rough. Kaelas had multiple cannulas as they never seemed to stay in and 4 failed lumbar puncture attempts to find out the severity of GBS infection. Finally the 5th attempt worked. The result was sepsis, and we were finally able to mark a go home date.
On the 7th of August 2020, Kaelas came home with us. He is now 16 months with no ongoing medical conditions, and thriving as an extremely active little toddler.
It took me 12 months to be able to share Kaelas's birth story with others as I found it hard not to blame myself. I now hope to raise awareness and encourage women to request GBS testing throughout their pregnancies.
In Brisbane, Australia it is up to the medical professionals to decide to test for GBS. Many won't test when the pregnancy is so low-risk. I was never tested. My placenta was sent away for testing but came back with no traces of GBS. I was told Kaelas's size reduction in the womb was nothing to do with GBS. I do wonder if the insertion of the balloon, or the drip, or the stress and anxiety I felt from being told he needed to come out contributed to contracting or igniting GBS, but guess I will never truly know.
I know we are one of the lucky ones to come out of this journey unscathed. We count our blessings everyday, as our thoughts are with every parent who has lost a child to GBS
-Kaila
I have shared a few stories on my Facebook page. It took me a while to speak about and not blame myself.
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.