Our introduction to Group B Strep began in the whirlwind of labour. After agreeing to take part in a clinical trial, I was tested and found to be GBS positive. Until that moment, we had never heard of group B Strep, and I didn’t even know testing was possible. While the news was frightening, the routine of intravenous antibiotics every four hours gave us reassurance. We were told our baby would be protected.
Margot May Lofts was born on 13 November 2023 at 40 weeks. She weighed a healthy 8lb 9oz, and we were reassured once again that everything was fine. She appeared perfectly well, and we left hospital ready to begin life as a family.
Almost straight away, though, we felt that something wasn’t right. Margot swung between being inconsolable and unusually lethargic. She slept far more than seemed normal and cried with an intensity that didn’t feel right. Time and time again, we raised concerns, only to be reassured that she was “just a newborn.” We were told it was likely colic, reflux, or later diagnosed as CMPA. Each time, we tried to trust the explanations, even though our instincts said otherwise.
Two weeks after Margot’s birth, I was tested again due to a surgical wound. The result came back positive for GBS once more. I was treated with antibiotics, but Margot was not tested. We accepted the reassurance we were given and carried on, still quietly worried but trusting that the system was working as it should.
Everything changed in the early hours of Saturday, 12 February 2024. Margot was almost 13 weeks old – beyond the age most people associate with “late‑onset” group B Strep. Her condition suddenly deteriorated, and an ambulance was called in the middle of the night.
Watching our tiny daughter being rushed into theatre for a lumbar puncture is something I will never forget. That moment marked the start of eight agonising days in hospital, as Margot fought group B Strep and sepsis. We waited desperately for test results, fearing that the infection might have spread to meningitis or pneumonia. Every minute felt suspended between hope and the unthinkable possibility of losing her.
The paediatric staff who cared for Margot were extraordinary and ultimately saved her life. But alongside our gratitude came something else that was incredibly difficult to process – their honesty. We were told that what had happened to Margot was preventable. Knowing how narrowly we escaped a fatal outcome left me carrying anger for months, directed at a system that had missed the signs and dismissed repeated concerns.
Over time, that anger has softened into overwhelming gratitude. We know we are the lucky ones. Margot is now healthy, vibrant, and shows no lasting effects from her illness. We never forget, however, that this is not the outcome for every family.
In our darkest moments, when we couldn’t see a way forward, voluntary support services and online communities provided hope, reassurance, and understanding when we needed it most. To everyone who offered support and helped us hold on during those terrifying weeks – thank you. Your kindness made a difference when it mattered most.
