Nora was born on her due date after a long and difficult induction that quickly became far more complicated than anyone had expected.
In the weeks leading up to her birth, mum Lauren had noticed reduced movements, and an induction was recommended. The induction began with oral medication, but her body reacted strongly.
The process was restarted the following day, but despite strong contractions, labour did not progress. By the morning, things intensified quickly, and Lauren was moved to the labour ward and started on a hormone drip. “By 5pm I knew something wasn’t right, and asked to be taken for a C-section”
That evening, Nora’s birth became an emergency. While preparing for surgery, her mum’s temperature rose sharply to 38.8°C. During the caesarean, complications arose as Nora’s head was deeply impacted, and the situation escalated to a Category 1 emergency.
Nora was safely delivered at 9lb 2oz, but concerns for both mum and baby continued. In recovery, Lauren’s condition rapidly deteriorated. “They told me I had sepsis” As her temperature climbed and her blood pressure dropped dangerously low, she was transferred to critical care for two days while doctors worked to stabilise her. Because of the infection risk, Nora was also taken to the neonatal unit for monitoring and treatment. Tests later confirmed that her mum was positive for Group B Strep.
Due to the risk of infection, Nora underwent a lumbar puncture to check for meningitis, thankfully the results came back clear. Both mum and baby were treated with intravenous antibiotics for five days before they were able to return home. Now, at 12 weeks old, Nora is thriving. “She is doing so well despite how things started”
Reflecting on the experience, Lauren describes the birth and early days as deeply traumatic, especially as a first-time parent. Although she had heard of Group B Strep in passing, she hadn’t been given information about it during pregnancy and assumed it wasn’t something she needed to worry about.
After returning home, she began searching for answers and came across Group B Strep Support (GBSS). “Finding the charity was really helpful. Reading through other parents’ experiences made me realise I wasn’t alone, it helped me validate all the trauma and shock I was carrying”
Now, by sharing her story, Lauren hopes to help other families feel informed and empowered.
“Sharing our story feels like a way to raise awareness so other families know to ask questions and trust their instincts. I wish it was something routinely tested for in the UK”
