Frankie was born in February 2020, his parents were excitedly preparing to bring their first baby home, but instead found themselves facing a frightening and unexpected battle for his life.
During pregnancy, Frankie’s mother Saskia was aware of group B Strep because a close family member had previously experienced a group B Strep infection. Wanting reassurance, she specifically asked to be tested. “I was told there was no need to test because, if I had group B Strep, it would show up in my urine. I trusted that advice and didn’t think any more about it.”
During labour, she developed a fever, but after Frankie was born it was thought that he was simply jaundiced. Mother and baby remained in hospital for five days. While they were there, Saskia raised concerns about a rash that had appeared on his skin, but was reassured that it was a normal newborn rash.
Looking back, she wonders whether it may have been an early sign that something was wrong, although she knows she can never be certain.
Even after they returned home, Frankie remained unsettled. But then his condition changed dramatically. “When nothing would comfort him anymore, I took his temperature and discovered it was 40°C. I called an ambulance immediately.” remembers Saskia.
Frankie was rushed back to hospital. For his parents, it was a terrifying experience. One moment they had been preparing for life with a newborn; the next, they were watching doctors fight to save him.
“It was terrifying to watch my tiny newborn being taken in and out of ambulances, not knowing what was happening or whether he was going to survive.”
Medical staff quickly recognised that Frankie was critically ill and started treatment immediately. Tests soon confirmed the cause: group B Strep infection leading to both meningitis and sepsis. In total, he spent six weeks in neonatal intensive care.
Those first weeks of parenthood looked nothing like the family had imagined.
Instead of taking their healthy newborn home and introducing him to family and friends, they watched him undergo intensive treatment in hospital. Because of the severity of his illness, Frankie had a PICC line running from his wrist to his heart and was unable to wear many of the tiny outfits that had been lovingly bought for him.
“We missed so many newborn milestones and memories. His first journey in a pram was to an MRI scan, and all of our family met him for the first time in hospital rather than at home.” The experience also had a significant impact on breastfeeding and on family life as a whole. Adding to the challenges, this happened during the COVID-19 pandemic, when restrictions made it even harder to access support from loved ones.
After six weeks in hospital, Frankie was finally well enough to go home. However, his treatment was not yet over. He continued receiving antibiotics at home for a further 14 weeks.
Today, Frankie’s family remain incredibly grateful that he survived, but they have not forgotten the trauma of those early weeks.
Looking back, his mother cannot help wondering whether things might have been different had she been offered the group B Strep test when she asked for it during pregnancy. “I will never know for certain, but I do know that parents deserve accurate information and the opportunity to make an informed choice about testing.”
Since Frankie’s illness, Group B Strep Support has been an important source of information and reassurance for the family. “It has helped me understand what happened to Frankie and why, which has been an important part of processing such a traumatic experience.”
“Knowing that there is an organisation dedicated to raising awareness, supporting families and campaigning for change has made me feel that our experience can have a positive purpose by helping to protect other babies in the future.”
