• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Cart Facebook Twitter
  • About us
    • Who we are
    • What we do
    • Work for us
    • Contact us
  • News
  • Media
  • Donate

Group B Strep Support HomepageGroup B Strep Support

Working to stop GBS infection in babies

Helpline: 0330 120 0796
New to this site? START HERE →
Quick guide: What is Group B Strep?
Why and when should I test for group B Strep?
What does my test result mean?
Group B Strep infection – know the symptoms
  • Home
  • Information & Support
    • About Group B Strep
      • Group B Strep and pregnancy
      • I’ve tested positive for group B Strep
      • After your baby is born
      • Information if you’re not pregnant
      • Frequently asked questions
    • Group B Strep testing
      • When and why to order a group B Strep test
      • Different types of group B Strep tests
      • Where to order a group B Strep test
      • What does my test result mean?
    • Group B Strep infection in babies
      • Symptoms of group B Strep infection in babies
      • Treating babies for GBS infection
      • After your baby’s GBS infection
      • Group B Strep and stillbirth
      • Making a complaint or taking legal action
    • Support
      • Contact our Helpline
      • Support for Dads & Partners
      • Bereavement Support
      • Peer Support
      • Your stories and experience
  • Get Involved
    • Donate
      • Donate online
      • Giving in memory
      • Pledge your birthday
      • Leave a gift in your will
      • Corporate Support
      • Other ways to give
      • How your donation helps
    • Fundraising and events
      • Fundraising events
      • Fundraising ideas
      • Fundraise in memory
      • Fundraise at work
      • Meet the community team
      • Fundraising Resources
      • Get your school involved
      • Tell us your plans
      • Fundraising hints and tips
      • Meet our inspirational fundraisers
      • Supporter promise
    • Campaign and raise awareness
      • Share your story on our website
      • Baby Loss Awareness Week 2023
      • Group B Strep Awareness Month 2023
      • Parliamentary activity
      • Latest Petition
    • Volunteer
      • Office volunteers
      • Events volunteers
      • Fundraising volunteers
    • Shop
      • All items
      • Information Materials and Publications
      • Clothing
  • Health Professionals
    • Group B Strep in Pregnancy & Babies Conference : 15 May 2024
    • Leaflets & Posters Bulk Order form
    • UK Guidelines
    • Resources for health professionals & those in their care
    • The GBS3 Trial
    • Online training, study days and conferences
    • Changing rates of GBS infection in babies
    • Research Papers

George

George’s mum Leonie writes,

“At 16 days old, George woke at 2am for his bottle as normal. He didn’t settle the way he usually would afterwards. He cried a cry I wasn’t familiar with – after a few long hours his dad managed to settle him back to sleep but George was making a grunting noise with each breath. We both had a child of our own each and assumed he maybe had trapped wind. 

Jamie, George’s dad, woke at 6am for work and I got up to make George’s next bottle. After an hour when he didn’t wake for it, I checked on him and quickly realised he had developed a temperature – 39.2. At this time he had no other real symptoms, but mother’s instinct told me this wasn’t good. I called 111 for advice and was told to get him to the GP in the next two hours. It had just gone 7am and the surgeries weren’t open yet. I woke my eldest son, threw some bits into the baby bag, and made sure we were dressed and ready to walk out of the door. George wouldn’t take his bottle. He was still very warm and just wanted to sleep.

The GP surgery told us to go straight in as soon as they opened and were amazing. They sent us on to the hospital and when we arrived, we were greeted by numerous doctors and nurses and my heart sank. I knew my instinct was right and my baby was poorly! 

George had group B Streptococcus meningitis. 

Shortly after arriving at the hospital, a doctor told us his thoughts and transferred George to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit. We were shown into a waiting room and waited for what felt like a lifetime. The next time I saw my baby, he had been put into an induced coma and was breathing via a ventilator. The doctor explained it was crucial that they helped George as much as possible so his body could fight the infection. He was fighting for his life, at 16 days old.

At this time, we still didn’t know the cause of the meningitis. His blood samples had been sent to the lab for testing and after 24 hours we were told it was group B Streptococcus and that he had likely caught it from me during delivery. However, as he was over seven days old, it was ‘late-onset’. We still to this day are unsure how George contracted the bacteria. 

I had never heard of GBS until the day he was in intensive care and I was staring at my baby, fighting so hard for a life he had barely even started! George spent six days in intensive care and three weeks in hospital. We very much consider ourselves lucky, because compared to many, George has got off lightly! 

The meningitis has left George with damage to the front of his brain. How and whether this will affect him is a matter of having to ‘wait and see’. He is under the neurological team and they are amazing. He is meeting his milestones as he should which is reassuring. However, George’s hearing was affected. He has suffered moderate hearing loss in his left ear and has been given a hearing aid to help him hear. 

Compared to many we are incredibly lucky. GBS was something I was unfamiliar with, even though this was my second baby. I will never stop shouting and raising awareness of GBS and meningitis, so parents learn the symptoms and know when to ask for help!” 

Share this post:

Share on X (Twitter) Share on Facebook Share on E-mail
More stories
« Tess
Cody »

Footer

Group B Strep Support
PO Box 203
Haywards Heath
West Sussex
RH16 1GF

Helpline: 0330 120 0796
E: info@gbss.org.uk

Contact us

Office Hours:
Weekdays 9am to 5pm

Twitter Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Sign up for our emails
Fundraising Regulator logo
Living Wage employer logo
Community Fund logo

Group B Strep Support (GBSS) provides general information only and this should not be considered as a substitute for advice given by a health professional covering any specific situation. | GBSS © 2023 | Registered Charity 1112065 | Company 5587535 | Cookies | Privacy | Terms & Conditions

Helpline: 0330 120 0796