My baby was overdue and my growth scan was showing my baby was larger than normal and there was slightly more amniotic fluid around the baby than normal. So the midwife called the hospital and booked an appointment with the doctor. The doctor who booked me for induction of labour due to the findings, about the baby amniotic fluid. I went to the hospital on 6 April.
I had my three pessaries, and we were waiting for transfer to the labour ward to have my waters broken. The maternity unit was very busy. I waited for five days. I called the midwife and said, “I Can’t wait any longer and my mental health is getting worse.” They offered a transfer to the Wythenshawe hospital in Manchester to continue the induction process. I was transferred to Labour Ward on 10 April.
My waters were broken at 20:40. The amniotic was noted to be green. It means that my baby passed (first poo) before being born. This can happen in babies who are over their due date and I were 13 days overdue. The doctor said it also happens if a baby has an infection or is in destress. I had an oxytocin drip at 21:30 and also an epidural sited at 00:30 for pain relief with good effect. At 03:30 my contractions were too frequent and the oxytocin drip was turned off. At 04:30 my baby’s heart rate was noted to be faster than before, at 160 beats per minute. This can be a sign of infection and babies who pass meconium can develop infection more easily. The doctor said there had been no progress in labour, my cervix remained 3cm dilated.
At 06:15 my contractions were again too frequent and an injection of terbutaline was given to reduce the frequency. My heart rate was also now faster than normal so they were concerned that I had an infection in the womb which was affecting me and my baby. At 06:38 the decision was made for an emergency Caesarean due to the infection and labour not progressing. I had the Caesarean under epidural with a strong top-up. My baby was born at 07:04. They give me more blood as I lost more than usual and my son needed oxygen and antibiotics for the infection.
He was admitted to the neonatal unit. I was so ill with the infection for a week after the birth and was on antibiotics through a dorp. The doctors don’t know where the infection came from so they did some vaginal and placental swabs to try to identify the infection straight away after my Caesarean. The doctor said my placental swabs showed a bacteria called group B Strep.
I felt very sad when I went to visit my son in the neonatal unit. I was crying a lot and my mental health was so low. I had a high heart rate during my 15 day stay in hospital. It was one of the hardest times in my life. I had never ever heard about group B Strep before.
I was discharged on 20 April with some antibiotic tablets and a Clexane injection. I want to help inform women and babies around the World about group B Strep.
