Quincy was born on 23 June 2025 at 39 weeks, however, just days after Quincy’s birth, everything changed.
Like many families, Mum Isla had never heard of Group B Strep (GBS) during her pregnancy. She was not offered a test and didn’t know that testing was even an option. She had no recognised risk factors and no reason to believe her baby might be at risk.
Quincy appeared well at birth. But when he was just five days old, he became seriously unwell. He was later diagnosed, at six days old, with bacterial meningitis caused by Group B Strep.
Isla says “I nearly lost him when he was born. The first four weeks of his life were taken away from me as he was in hospital on a constant IV drip”
Quincy’s condition was critical. He required intensive medical care, including two lumbar punctures, long line cannulas, and CT scans. He spent two days in paediatric intensive care, where his life hung in the balance.
After those initial critical days, Quincy remained in hospital for four weeks, receiving continuous intravenous antibiotics. The experience was incredibly difficult for his mum, especially during what should have been a precious bonding time. Due to his fragile condition, there were times when she was unable to hold him, and the emotional impact of those early weeks has stayed with her.
Group B Strep was only mentioned after Quincy became unwell, when a consultant explained that his meningitis had been caused by GBS.
Looking back, Quincy’s mum strongly believes that more awareness and access to testing during pregnancy is vital.
