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.

A fundraiser very close to my heart as just a year ago I was one of the above statistics where my baby was born with Group B Strep. I will never forget seeing my baby for the first time, hooked up to a machine to help her breathe in an incubator in the Special Care Baby Unit. After having 3 children previously with no problems I was in a state of complete shock, worry and fear of the unknown.

Now that I know Group B Strep is preventable fills me with so many emotions. Angry, in that my baby and every other baby out there that unfortunately develops this infection should never need to develop the infection in the first place. Newborn babies are already very vulnerable so knowing that GBS is a preventable infection should mean that no baby should ever have to fight it or die from it.

Hopeful -seeing the light at the end of the dark tunnel. I remember being so consumed with worry and guilt, that I never got to enjoy or embrace her early days as I blamed myself for my baby having GBS and worried about what lay ahead for my little girl. As the days progressed I tried to put the guilt to the back of my mind as there was nothing I could do, Isla had Group B Strep and that was just it. I worried all the time wondering would she be OK, as I had Googled all the side effects of GBS whilst in the hospital. With every month that passed I watched her milestones and her development with extreme intensity.

Isla’s not long after turning one and is the life and soul of the house. I am so grateful and thankful that my little girl is one of the lucky ones, however I still go through all the ‘What if?’ scenarios very frequently and think of other little babies and parents, through no fault of their own who’ve been though a very different GBS journey. I really hope that with more education and support for expectant mothers that there will soon be no babies affected or lives lost due to Group B Strep.

I thank everyone in advance for any donation received.