I am aiming to complete 26.2 miles walking/running throughout the month of April 2020, I will be using my Apple Watch and the app RunKeeper to monitor this, my aim is at least a mile a day! 

Unfortunately early in my pregnancy I found out I had GBSS I found this out through some medical issues I was having I had multiple different tests done. The test for GBSS isn’t actually done routinely in pregnancy which is horrible considering how dangerous it can be. Anyway my waters broke on Sunday 25th August 2019 ( I was 39+4 gestation) despite the hospital being fully aware I was a carrier of GBSS they sent me home as I wasn’t in “active labour” within 24hrs I developed a high temperature at wasn’t feeling well. Back to the hospital I went. They started to induce me and inserted the intravenous antibiotics I needed due to GBSS but it didn’t work, despite getting strong regular contractions I didn’t dilate any further than 2cm in the early hours of the morning on the 27th they thought they lost my baby’s heartbeat, turns out it significantly dropped and nothing would bring it back up. I was rushed down for an Emergency Caesarean and our little boy was born at 4.20am around 8am Arthur had a very high temperature and got taken to SCBU (Special Care Baby Unit) where he underwent a few tests, he had a high infection level in his blood and needed intravenous antibiotics for at least 48hrs, due to blood tests still coming back with high infection level these antibiotics carried on for 5 days. I can remember sat there crying to the nurse because I didn’t understand why because he looked so healthy. I remember her response being “he does look healthy yes but I can assure you he is very poorly” I couldn’t help but blame myself. The consultant that was working the shift when Arthur was born came round and spoke to me, she apologised, and said they should have done more and I shouldn’t have been sent home when my waters broke. Anyway after a week in hospital we were aloud home and we have a healthy, happy, clever and gorgeous 7 month old. More people need to be aware of GBSS and more needs to be done to test and support pregnant woman. My boy is one of the lucky ones but many aren’t! And that is why this charity is close to my heart. 

Group B Streptococcus (Group B Strep, Strep B, Beta Strep, or GBS) is a type of bacteria which lives in the intestines, rectum and vagina or around 2-4 in every 10 women in the UK (20-40%). This is often referred to as ‘carrying’ or being ‘colonised with’ GBS.

Group B Strep is not a sexually transmitted disease. Most women carrying GBS will have no symptoms. Carrying GBS is not harmful to you, but it can affect your baby around the time of birth.

GBS can occasionally cause serious infection in young babies and, very rarely, during pregnancy before labour.

Please click on the link below to find out more regarding GBSS 

https://gbss.org.uk