Our daughter, Alaia Jae, was born on 24/04/2025, weighing 8lb 1oz, our little bundle of Joy was everything we had been waiting 9 months for.

At just 10 days old, Alaia had lost 17.5% of her body weight, dropping to 6lb 9oz. We were rushed to A&E, where it was initially assumed to be a breastfeeding issue. Abby was told to breastfeed, then express, then top up under 24-hour observation.

But after her first two monitored feeds, it became clear: she was feeding perfectly fine.

That’s when they ordered a blood culture. Alaia showed almost no symptoms of being ill — only weight loss and slight paleness. Even overnight, she was described as “fine within herself,” with only slightly mottled skin by morning.

By the afternoon of the next day, her blood results came back. Her CRP (infection marker) level was 150.

For context: in newborns, anything over 5 is treated aggressively with antibiotics as a serious infection, only for this to raise to 182 the following day despite being started on antibiotics immediately.

Alaia was also Septic, had tested positive for Group B Strep, and underwent four lumbar punctures to then confirm Meningitis.

The next six weeks were the hardest of our lives. Alaia had an extremely late onset diagnosis of GBS and so this was a huge concern for the damage that could have potentially been caused. We wouldn’t wish this experience on any parent. We are extremely lucky that Alaia was able to make a full recovery.

Throughout our hospital stay, doctors repeatedly told us how unbelievably lucky we were to have brought her in when we did. The words “medical mystery” were used again and again — because based on her infection levels, she should have been so much sicker than she appeared. Had we waited even a short time longer, the effects could have been irreversible… or even untreatable.

Why We’re Fundraising

Before this, we had no idea what Group B Strep was — how it’s passed, how common it is, or how dangerous it can be.

Finding the Group B Strep Support charity helped us understand what happened, and how to prevent it from happening to other families.

Now, we want to help them continue their vital work in:

• Raising awareness

• Supporting families

• Improving testing and prevention

• Funding life-saving education for parents and healthcare providers

Any donation — big or small — will help save babies’ lives and spare families from the fear we faced.

We are beyond grateful for your support and for helping us honour this brilliant charity.

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.

— Jay & Abby, Vital Studios💙

Group B Strep is the leading cause of severe infection in newborn babies including sepsis, meningitis and pneumonia.

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 another survives with long-term disabilities, physical, mental or both.

Group B Strep Support is on a mission to STOP life-threatening group B Strep infection in babies.

We provide support for families, improves awareness, educates health professionals and campaigns for better prevention.