Group B Streptococcus is the UK's most common cause of life-threatening infection in newborn babies and of meningitis in babies under age 3 months. On average in the UK, at least-two babies a day develop a group B Strep infection -one baby a week dies from their GBS infection, and-one baby a week survives with long-term disabilities – physical, mental or both.Yet most group B Strep infections are preventable. Group B Strep Support informs families & health professionals about group B Strep to save tiny lives..

Jenson, my gorgeous son was born on 29.8.2022 - 16 weeks premature, born at 24 week gestation. Jenson was 1.3lbs and needed significant amounts of help in neonatal intensive care. 

23.9.22 - Jenson is 1.5lbs. Jenson had all the infection signs. The doctors confirmed he has late onset of Group B Strep - Jenson had a lumber puncture & a brain scan due to the worries he has meningitis because of this infection. Jenson was started on antibiotics immediately - the lumber punctured determined how long his treatment was. It turned out to be 10 days. 

I was asked at this point whether I was tested for Group B Strep during my pregnancy - which I was not as I had NEVER heard of this and the NHS do not offer testing any more. I wish I would have at least known about it to be tested privately. 

Jenson was so unwell. Due to Jenson's prematurity and being ventilated, Jenson couldn't finish his course of antibiotics as he had to have steroids due to his lung deteroiration. 

14.10.22 - Jenson has all of the signs of an infection again. He was immediately transferred to St Georges Hospital. He had a lumber puncture & Jenson's infection levels are up to 133. Babies infection levels should be under 7 and Jenson’s markers were 133! The hospital said this infection is Group B strep and has caused Sepsis. Jenson is only 2.3lbs at this point. Jenson had to have antibiotics for 14 days this time and he was on the strongest antibiotics they could give him. This was the closest we come to seriously losing Jenson.

This 2nd smack of the Group B Strep infection set him back significantly - I would say at least a month of progress with his prematurity issues. He was back on a ventilator AGAIN which caused his lung to collapse, needing another set of steriods to come off the veniltator. Jenson had his stomach emptied because of how unwell he was and we had to start again with feeding him and his progress.

The infections for Jenson meant endless heel pricks to run blood gases to check on his infection levels which then led to him having many blood transfusions.. Having IV antibiotics & blood transfusions increased his chances of getting more infection due to the amount of canulars he needed.. which honestly by the end of our 4 month journey and hospital stay must have been around 30!!

Group B Strep (GBS) - something 1 in 4 women carry but it is not tested throughout pregnancy. If this is passed to your baby, you & your baby need antibiotics to treat this at birth. This infection can make your baby very ill quickly - not just premature babies, full term as well. Extremely rare cases of GBS can cause prematurity or miscarriage. 

This charity is the first I have found that raise awareness and give support - please do consider donating to my skipping journey and please consider educating yourself on GBS. 

Thank you for reading :) 

Lots of Love, Abbie xx