
Grace’s mum Katie writes,
“After losing my 1st daughter at 20 weeks due to a heart defect I became obsessed with all the ways babies could die and did everything I could to prevent anything that was preventable from happening.
I found the Group Strep B Strep Support Instagram page and ordered my group B Strep test at 35 weeks (I believe) from one of their recommended providers. I didn’t expect to be positive…but I was.
Initially I was scared but the text and info provided by the testing provider, reassured me that as long as I had IV antibiotics as soon as labour began, I would be fine. My midwife listened and added this to my notes and I was reassured I could still have a water birth.
On Sept 27th 2017 I awoke at 11.30 pm, my waters had broken. When I called the hospital I told them I was group B Strep positive and needed to come in right away. By midnight I was in triage. Very quickly labour progressed, I was given my IV antibiotics and moved to a birthing pool. At 5.26 am my rainbow baby was born in the water. It was magical. She was healthy and fine!
I tell everyone to order a private test and am now pregnant again. I’m hoping I get my water birth experience.”
Photos are of Grace (at age 4 in 2021) and mum Katie.