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MIA - CANADA
Born July 26, 2012 Late-onset Mother's GBS Status: Tested positive Gestational Age: 39 weeks Age harmed: 16 Days Old |
It was the evening of August 11th when Mia fed as usual at 11:00pm. I changed her diaper and put her down to sleep following her feed. At 2:00am, I woke in a panic because she did not wake for her 1:00am feeding. Therefore, I woke her up to feed. She was completely uninterested and started crying. The crying went on until 7:00am. I noticed that she was irritated and that her leg would twitch and shiver every time I touched her tummy. I continuously checked her temperature throughout the night but there was no fever. At first, I thought it was the start of colic but I was not convinced. Another thing that was puzzling my mind is that Mia developed a weird diaper rash on August 9th that did not look like any other rash my son previously had. It was about the size of a quarter around her anus. The skin was inflamed, and almost looked like a peeled burn/blister. Even after three days of zinc, the rash was not clearing. I searched the net for pictures of different types of newborn rashes and it looked exactly like the ones stated were a strep b rash. With that being said, my husband and I decided to take Mia to Sick Kids Hospital just to be sure that it was nothing serious and hopefully just a little bug.
Upon arrival, an X-ray and ultrasound was completed as the doctor thought it may have been colitis. At approximately 4:00pm, Mia developed a fever. Being that I tested positive for GBS in my 37th week, the doctor immediately started her on a mix of antibiotics and followed with blood and urine samples and finally a lumbar puncture. The preliminary spinal tap results (1/2 hour) showed no signs of meningitis. The nurse also noted that the fluid looked clear, which was a good sign. They admitted her and advised us that they would like to wait for the test results to return in order to determine the source of the fever. Completely distraught, I watched my precious baby cry for two days because I was told to refrain from feeding. She was also put into an incubator until the fever subsided. Within 24 hours, we knew she had something growing in her blood and by 48 hours after the culture was taken, it was determined that her blood was infected with strep b. The doctors discharged two of the antibiotics and changed the ampicillin to penicillin for 11 days. It was extremely painful to hear her scream each time her veins collapsed and they would have to start a new IV line. She had seven different lines put in. I must say that this is one of the most dreadful experiences that I have had to go through but am so thankful and grateful that Mia's case was mild and that we still have her with us.
My biggest fear is that this will recur. One doctor at the hospital informed me of two recurring cases this year. He also informed me that in both recurring cases, the mothers' breast milk was tested upon the second incident. Both came back positive with strep b. This was enough information to convince me to stop breastfeeding. The risks of recurrence (for myself) are much greater than the benefits of breastfeeding. I couldn't be able to forgive myself if my precious angel were to get infected again while I continued to breastfeed. I questioned the risks and the doctors told me that there is not enough evidence and information linking the two but something that infectious control should study further. I feel that I have been blessed and lucky that Mia's infection did not turn into meningitis but am fearful that I may not be so lucky if this were to recur.
I wish that the doctors better educated me of the symptoms and risks of GBS. When I tested positive and asked questions, my doctor told me that as long as I received the four hours of antibiotics prior to delivery, that I would be covered. I received three rounds of antibiotics (12 hours) prior to delivery and was completely unaware that the antibiotics only protects you for early-onset GBS. I had no idea that there even was an early and late-onset, let alone that it can be fatal.
To all the families who have had to go through the devastation of losing a child to GBS, my heart goes out to each and everyone of you.
— Rosanna Manzerra, Canada
Upon arrival, an X-ray and ultrasound was completed as the doctor thought it may have been colitis. At approximately 4:00pm, Mia developed a fever. Being that I tested positive for GBS in my 37th week, the doctor immediately started her on a mix of antibiotics and followed with blood and urine samples and finally a lumbar puncture. The preliminary spinal tap results (1/2 hour) showed no signs of meningitis. The nurse also noted that the fluid looked clear, which was a good sign. They admitted her and advised us that they would like to wait for the test results to return in order to determine the source of the fever. Completely distraught, I watched my precious baby cry for two days because I was told to refrain from feeding. She was also put into an incubator until the fever subsided. Within 24 hours, we knew she had something growing in her blood and by 48 hours after the culture was taken, it was determined that her blood was infected with strep b. The doctors discharged two of the antibiotics and changed the ampicillin to penicillin for 11 days. It was extremely painful to hear her scream each time her veins collapsed and they would have to start a new IV line. She had seven different lines put in. I must say that this is one of the most dreadful experiences that I have had to go through but am so thankful and grateful that Mia's case was mild and that we still have her with us.
My biggest fear is that this will recur. One doctor at the hospital informed me of two recurring cases this year. He also informed me that in both recurring cases, the mothers' breast milk was tested upon the second incident. Both came back positive with strep b. This was enough information to convince me to stop breastfeeding. The risks of recurrence (for myself) are much greater than the benefits of breastfeeding. I couldn't be able to forgive myself if my precious angel were to get infected again while I continued to breastfeed. I questioned the risks and the doctors told me that there is not enough evidence and information linking the two but something that infectious control should study further. I feel that I have been blessed and lucky that Mia's infection did not turn into meningitis but am fearful that I may not be so lucky if this were to recur.
I wish that the doctors better educated me of the symptoms and risks of GBS. When I tested positive and asked questions, my doctor told me that as long as I received the four hours of antibiotics prior to delivery, that I would be covered. I received three rounds of antibiotics (12 hours) prior to delivery and was completely unaware that the antibiotics only protects you for early-onset GBS. I had no idea that there even was an early and late-onset, let alone that it can be fatal.
To all the families who have had to go through the devastation of losing a child to GBS, my heart goes out to each and everyone of you.
— Rosanna Manzerra, Canada
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.