I remember vividly the exact moment I found out I was pregnant. I had a feeling I was, which was weird as we had been trying unsuccessfully for years to get pregnant. I remember not even wanting to do the test, I was so scared it wouldn’t be true, but I felt something was different this time.
Stepping back those 5 years or so, remembering that feeling of elation, but also the huge amount of worry that had descended on me. How would I make sure I did everything right during my pregnancy? Obviously, as a first-time mum there was so much I didn’t know. Consequently, I was led almost entirely by my midwife and the doctors that we saw along our pregnancy journey.
I listened to their recommendations and I remember trusting my doctor so much, that I would just go by what she said that she would do in my position.
What would have happened if there was something that the doctor hadn’t told me about. Sure, I was researching things on Google like a mad woman, but I was ultimately trusting the medical profession for their best advice.
One potential issue that may not be highlighted to all mums-to-be is the potential risk of a Group B Strep infection.
One new born baby a day develops a Group B Strep infection.
One baby a week dies from Group B Strep infection.
One baby a fortnight is left with long-term disabilities caused by a Group B Strep infection.
These are pretty horrible statistics and hugely sad when we consider that these losses are often avoidable.
There are many pregnant mums out there that don’t know anything about Group B Strep and so I wanted to write this post today to highlight this potential issue in the hope they just helps one person.
I want pregnant mums to;
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- Know about it the potential issues caused by Group B Strep
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- Test for it
- Prevent it
1 in 5 to 1 in 4 women carry the bacterium, which leads to this infection in their newborn child. The only way to know whether you have this bacterium is to test for it. If you test positive then most GBS infections in your newborn baby can easily prevented during labour, by giving you an antibiotic injection. Intravenous antibiotics in labour are highly effective at preventing GBS infection in newborn babies, reducing the risk from around 1 in 300 to less than 1 in 6000.
It’s important every woman gets tested from 35 weeks onwards into their pregnancy to find out if they’re carrying the bacterium to be able to plan to receive effective treatment in labour.
In fact, in so many countries all around the world pregnant mums are routinely screened for Group B Strep bacterium during pregnancy, but sadly this is not the case in the UK. Despite our advanced Health Care System, not every hospital is routinely offering this simple test that could save 40 newborns a year and prevent disability in the survivors.
Instead, some hospitals in the UK use a Risk Factor System, which can prove to be an unreliable strategy. Which is demonstrated in the number of group B strep infections in newborn babies increasing 21% since 2003.
By knowing about the issues you have the choice to access this testing safely and easily from your own home. EverGene Health is a leading UK provider of medical self-tests working alongside UK accredited labs. Do the test in our own home, simply post it off and it’s just £35. I know I would have paid that and more to know my baby would be safe. Just for the peace of mind.
Mums to be have so much to worry about, without adding in something which can be easily prevented. Please take the time to share this message with the ladies in your life.
Disclosure; This is a collaborative post.