<p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: left; line-height: 15.9pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a type of bacteria&nbsp;that a third of the population carry it&nbsp;is the most common cause of life-threatening infections in newborn babies in the UK.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-align: left; line-height: 15.9pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Our daughter, Amelie got GBS when she was 8 days old. As high as 10% of babies who get GBS do not survive. We are so glad she is still with us. I am growing a perfectly formed ginger beard to celebrate !</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Awareness is key to avoiding this dreadful infection. Most cases can be prevented. Testing is not routine on the NHS and the tests they do have aren&rsquo;t reliable. If sensitive testing at 35-37 weeks was available along with correct information for expectant mothers many more babies lives could be saved.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">There is no consistent advice for expectant mothers to raise their awareness of GBS.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">&nbsp;<span style="background: white;">If you are found to carry GBS in your pregnancy you can be given Antibiotics in labour to protect your baby.</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">If we hit &pound;1000, I will keep it on all December for my alternative Father Christmas look.&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">So please dig deep and donate now.</span></p> </p> <p>&nbsp;</p>