|
MEGHAN ANN HUNTER - USA
March 26, 2003 - September 14, 2003 Late-onset Mother's GBS Status: Tested positive Gestational Age: 36 weeks Age harmed: 4 weeks, 1 day |
After 11 years of marriage, my husband and I underwent IVF/ICSI and became pregnant with twin girls. My pregnancy was normal except for mild preclampsia (higher than normal blood pressures) and I tested positive for group B strep. I was told that there was nothing to worry about because I was having a C-section and that there was no need for preventative theory.
Unfortunately, at one month and one day old she stopped taking her bottle and was making a grunting sound. I thought it was just gas and that she was being fussy. I stayed up all night with Meghan and by the morning I noticed that she was quite pale in comparison to her twin sister. I called the pediatrician who told me to give her baby mylacon. But it just spilled out of her mouth and she would not swallow it.
It was my husband's first day back to work after a month at home with me and although I called, I was unable to reach him. I called my sister and she advised that I call 911 as we were dealing with a newborn and it was best to be safe then sorry. Once at the local hospital after some initial test, we were told how very sick she was and they had her immediately transferred to the county Medical Center in Westchester. She was placed on life support and after a week we had her transferred to Weil Cornell/NY Presbyterian in NYC where she continued to decline.
We finally made the heart wrenching decision to take her off the life support. She struggled and stayed with us until September. She passed away just shy of her six month birthday. I spent too many nights blaming myself thinking I did something wrong...but I know now 16 years later that I did everything possible and this disease just did all its damage before she even exhibited a sign that she was in distress. We miss Meghan everyday. I had anther set of twin girls 5 years later and you bet I made sure that even though I was having a C-section and even though at that point I was testing negative for group be strep, I wanted the preventative antibiotics. Our twins are 11 now and Liz is 16.
-MaryEllen Hunter
I tell everyone that is pregnant to get tested and ask for treatment
Unfortunately, at one month and one day old she stopped taking her bottle and was making a grunting sound. I thought it was just gas and that she was being fussy. I stayed up all night with Meghan and by the morning I noticed that she was quite pale in comparison to her twin sister. I called the pediatrician who told me to give her baby mylacon. But it just spilled out of her mouth and she would not swallow it.
It was my husband's first day back to work after a month at home with me and although I called, I was unable to reach him. I called my sister and she advised that I call 911 as we were dealing with a newborn and it was best to be safe then sorry. Once at the local hospital after some initial test, we were told how very sick she was and they had her immediately transferred to the county Medical Center in Westchester. She was placed on life support and after a week we had her transferred to Weil Cornell/NY Presbyterian in NYC where she continued to decline.
We finally made the heart wrenching decision to take her off the life support. She struggled and stayed with us until September. She passed away just shy of her six month birthday. I spent too many nights blaming myself thinking I did something wrong...but I know now 16 years later that I did everything possible and this disease just did all its damage before she even exhibited a sign that she was in distress. We miss Meghan everyday. I had anther set of twin girls 5 years later and you bet I made sure that even though I was having a C-section and even though at that point I was testing negative for group be strep, I wanted the preventative antibiotics. Our twins are 11 now and Liz is 16.
-MaryEllen Hunter
I tell everyone that is pregnant to get tested and ask for treatment
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.