|
SAMANTHA MICHELE — USA
Stillborn July 7, 2009 Prenatal-onset Mother's GBS Status: Unknown Gestational Age: 39 weeks Age harmed: 39th week of pregnancy |
I was 39 weeks pregnant when I went into labor with Samantha, our first baby and first time pregnant. The entire pregnancy went beautifully; every check-up showed a perfect heart rate and I felt fine physically except for the usual symptoms that come with pregnancy (some heartburn, etc).
One week before my due date, I felt the onset of labor, with some mild back cramping. At night, my water broke and we immediately rushed to the hospital. I hadn't felt much movement that day, but thought the baby might be "hunkering down" so to speak, getting ready for labor. Since it was my first pregnancy, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. When we arrived at the hospital 30 minutes later, they hooked me up to the fetal monitors, but did not find her heartbeat. We were simply devastated beyond words. How could this happen? Everything seemed to have gone so smoothly.
Our sweet little Sam was stillborn on July 7, 2009 at 8 lbs, 2 oz. We declined an autopsy, but the hospital cultured the placenta and found it was infected with GBS. Also, upon my admission to the hospital, my white blood cell count was very high, signaling an infection.
I knew nothing about GBS before our experience, even though I was tested for it at 34 weeks and my test came back negative. The loss of our Samantha was so senseless. It is something from which we will never fully recover. I sincerely hope a vaccine and more diligent testing for GBS is available soon, in honor of our Sam and all the babies and families whose lives have been forever affected by GBS.
— Kelly Nash, NJ, USA
Kelly emails friends and family about this organization and about Goodshop/Goodsearch. She tries to share her story wherever possible.
One week before my due date, I felt the onset of labor, with some mild back cramping. At night, my water broke and we immediately rushed to the hospital. I hadn't felt much movement that day, but thought the baby might be "hunkering down" so to speak, getting ready for labor. Since it was my first pregnancy, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. When we arrived at the hospital 30 minutes later, they hooked me up to the fetal monitors, but did not find her heartbeat. We were simply devastated beyond words. How could this happen? Everything seemed to have gone so smoothly.
Our sweet little Sam was stillborn on July 7, 2009 at 8 lbs, 2 oz. We declined an autopsy, but the hospital cultured the placenta and found it was infected with GBS. Also, upon my admission to the hospital, my white blood cell count was very high, signaling an infection.
I knew nothing about GBS before our experience, even though I was tested for it at 34 weeks and my test came back negative. The loss of our Samantha was so senseless. It is something from which we will never fully recover. I sincerely hope a vaccine and more diligent testing for GBS is available soon, in honor of our Sam and all the babies and families whose lives have been forever affected by GBS.
— Kelly Nash, NJ, USA
Kelly emails friends and family about this organization and about Goodshop/Goodsearch. She tries to share her story wherever possible.
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.