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MADDIE - USA
GBS Survivor Late-onset Mother's GBS Status: Not tested Gestational Age: Full-term (c-section) Age Harmed: 7 weeks |
My daughter was full term. There was no GBS testing done while pregnant due to me having a repeat c-section and there only being a 1% chance of her getting the disease. (GBSI note: The current CDC recommendations are that all pregnant women should be tested for GBS between 35-37 weeks gestation as onset of labor or rupture of membranes can occur before a planned c-section.)
At 7 weeks old we rushed her to the hospital for a temp of 102.5. They took her vitals, gave her tylenol, drew some blood, and sent us home when her temp was 100.7. Five hours after returning home her temp spiked again, back up to 102.9. We rushed her to the hospital where they did a spinal tap and drew more blood. The strep b had infected her blood, spinal fluid, and urine. She was diagnosed with meningitis (which she had 1% chance of getting as a result of the strep b). She was hospitalized for 2 weeks. They had to do a 2nd lumbar puncture on the 3rd day to make sure the bacteria was gone. The first 5 days she spent in the hospital, trying to get the IV to stay in, blew all her veins in both arms, hands, and feet. She was then transferred to another hospital to get a Stent, that would surgically be put in for the remainder of the hospital stay to receive the full course of the antibiotics.
Ever since, she has seizures due to the scar tissue left behind from the meningitis. And her last episode of seizures, the activity was worse due to her getting older. When I ask why do doctors take such a huge risk, I always get told the same thing. 1% is so little and chances of getting the strep b is so rare. But now my daughter has to spend the rest of her life with her condition because the 1% doesn't matter. And in the future she could possibly have speech, vision, or hearing problems. Some people end up with brain damage. I'm glad that her father and I got her to the hospital in time before that happened, but she didn't deserve this, nor do any of the other 1% of the people. They matter, too. We take a chance with our child's life and CPS gets called, but if a professional does it's a big oops. I understand doctors can't possibly know everything and their job is to practice medicine, but why take such a big risk when it could cost somebody their life, especially an innocent child? So I am sharing my story because I hope in the future they make a change where regardless if GBS positive or negative, they give the child antibiotics at birth, besides the ones they already do.
— Sarah Stewart, MI, USA
Sarah shares GBS info verbally.
At 7 weeks old we rushed her to the hospital for a temp of 102.5. They took her vitals, gave her tylenol, drew some blood, and sent us home when her temp was 100.7. Five hours after returning home her temp spiked again, back up to 102.9. We rushed her to the hospital where they did a spinal tap and drew more blood. The strep b had infected her blood, spinal fluid, and urine. She was diagnosed with meningitis (which she had 1% chance of getting as a result of the strep b). She was hospitalized for 2 weeks. They had to do a 2nd lumbar puncture on the 3rd day to make sure the bacteria was gone. The first 5 days she spent in the hospital, trying to get the IV to stay in, blew all her veins in both arms, hands, and feet. She was then transferred to another hospital to get a Stent, that would surgically be put in for the remainder of the hospital stay to receive the full course of the antibiotics.
Ever since, she has seizures due to the scar tissue left behind from the meningitis. And her last episode of seizures, the activity was worse due to her getting older. When I ask why do doctors take such a huge risk, I always get told the same thing. 1% is so little and chances of getting the strep b is so rare. But now my daughter has to spend the rest of her life with her condition because the 1% doesn't matter. And in the future she could possibly have speech, vision, or hearing problems. Some people end up with brain damage. I'm glad that her father and I got her to the hospital in time before that happened, but she didn't deserve this, nor do any of the other 1% of the people. They matter, too. We take a chance with our child's life and CPS gets called, but if a professional does it's a big oops. I understand doctors can't possibly know everything and their job is to practice medicine, but why take such a big risk when it could cost somebody their life, especially an innocent child? So I am sharing my story because I hope in the future they make a change where regardless if GBS positive or negative, they give the child antibiotics at birth, besides the ones they already do.
— Sarah Stewart, MI, USA
Sarah shares GBS info verbally.
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.