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LILLIAN — NEW ZEALAND
Born January 15, 2010 Late-onset Mother's GBS Status: Tested positive Gestational Age: 38 weeks Age Harmed: 7 days of age |
During one of my weekly midwife appointments it was confirmed that I was a carrier of group B strep. After returning home I got to reading an article on GBS, my mind racing with questions. I asked several mothers on the topic; the general consensus was that they had never heard of any such thing, the most common answer was, "Do you mean the throat infection?" The following week I voiced my concerns to my midwife with a reply, "There is nothing to worry about--many women are carriers and there are rarely any problems with delivery."
The day before I was due I went for another check up, a second round of acupuncture, and a membrane sweep. After leaving I went and saw my partner at work to share in the excitement that our bundle of joy was due to arrive any day now.
January 15, 2010 our beautiful baby girl arrived after a short 7 hour labour with my waters being broken 15 minutes before delivery and no I.V. antibiotics administered. She was monitored frequently throughout the next 24 hours which is standard protocol for babies of mothers with GBS. My partner and I constantly asked the midwife and neonatal pediatrics about a small abscess she had under her right eye which was shrugged off as birth trauma. After 24 hours in the hospital we were given the "all clear" to take her home and left that afternoon happy and content with our beautiful new baby girl.
Things went fantastically well in the first week and I was convinced that I was lucky to have such a well-behaved newborn. On day seven the midwife visited us for a check up and my partner again voiced his concern about the abscess; the midwife assured us it was nothing to worry about. We went about the day, business as usual, in the evening putting our healthy-looking baby down to sleep. My partner checked on her a few hours later only to find the whole right side of her face was swollen. My heart sunk and tears promptly started to flow. It was then that I started to put two and two together.
We rushed her to A.N.E. as we thought the hospital would put life and death patients before her. After arriving at the A.N.E. we were given a room away from the usual waiting room waited, and waited, and waited. Two hours later we were finally seen by a doctor who immediately called us an ambulance, calling forward to the Emergency Department to notify them we were heading their way. We soon arrived at the hospital and it was all on; various tests, x-rays and numerous attempts at a lumbar puncture. My partner and I were overcome with immense worry at the thought that our beautiful baby girl might not make it. Seven hours from the time we discovered she was sick she was started on I.V antibiotics. Still there were no answers to our many questions. It was days until the test results came back and it was confirmed that she had meningitis caused by Group B Strep Sepsis.
After two grueling days of uncertainty we finally saw some improvement and at day 7 she was finally discharged from the hospital.
Now, at 18 weeks old, she is a bright and bubbly baby, full of smiles and laughs. She is currently undergoing fortnightly therapy working on resolving a weakness on her right side with hand movement and attention. This horrible ordeal has put many things in retrospect for us and we will always be grateful to those that helped us to bring her into the world and those who helped in her recovery. She is perfect!
After researching her case it ceases to amaze me how such a deadly disease lacks such awareness, with many midwives failing to test ALL pregnant clients routinely.
— Kelly Hughes, New Zealand
Kelly creates awareness among friends and family about the importance of testing for GBS during pregnancy.
The day before I was due I went for another check up, a second round of acupuncture, and a membrane sweep. After leaving I went and saw my partner at work to share in the excitement that our bundle of joy was due to arrive any day now.
January 15, 2010 our beautiful baby girl arrived after a short 7 hour labour with my waters being broken 15 minutes before delivery and no I.V. antibiotics administered. She was monitored frequently throughout the next 24 hours which is standard protocol for babies of mothers with GBS. My partner and I constantly asked the midwife and neonatal pediatrics about a small abscess she had under her right eye which was shrugged off as birth trauma. After 24 hours in the hospital we were given the "all clear" to take her home and left that afternoon happy and content with our beautiful new baby girl.
Things went fantastically well in the first week and I was convinced that I was lucky to have such a well-behaved newborn. On day seven the midwife visited us for a check up and my partner again voiced his concern about the abscess; the midwife assured us it was nothing to worry about. We went about the day, business as usual, in the evening putting our healthy-looking baby down to sleep. My partner checked on her a few hours later only to find the whole right side of her face was swollen. My heart sunk and tears promptly started to flow. It was then that I started to put two and two together.
We rushed her to A.N.E. as we thought the hospital would put life and death patients before her. After arriving at the A.N.E. we were given a room away from the usual waiting room waited, and waited, and waited. Two hours later we were finally seen by a doctor who immediately called us an ambulance, calling forward to the Emergency Department to notify them we were heading their way. We soon arrived at the hospital and it was all on; various tests, x-rays and numerous attempts at a lumbar puncture. My partner and I were overcome with immense worry at the thought that our beautiful baby girl might not make it. Seven hours from the time we discovered she was sick she was started on I.V antibiotics. Still there were no answers to our many questions. It was days until the test results came back and it was confirmed that she had meningitis caused by Group B Strep Sepsis.
After two grueling days of uncertainty we finally saw some improvement and at day 7 she was finally discharged from the hospital.
Now, at 18 weeks old, she is a bright and bubbly baby, full of smiles and laughs. She is currently undergoing fortnightly therapy working on resolving a weakness on her right side with hand movement and attention. This horrible ordeal has put many things in retrospect for us and we will always be grateful to those that helped us to bring her into the world and those who helped in her recovery. She is perfect!
After researching her case it ceases to amaze me how such a deadly disease lacks such awareness, with many midwives failing to test ALL pregnant clients routinely.
— Kelly Hughes, New Zealand
Kelly creates awareness among friends and family about the importance of testing for GBS during pregnancy.
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.