What you don’t know…
CAN hurt you or your baby.
The goal here is not to scare you. It is to make sure that if you are pregnant and reading this, that you are armed with the information that others were not.
Many women uknowingly carry bacterium called Group B streptococcus, or Group B Strep. Since the bacteria often cause no symptoms or illness in their host, a pregnant woman can also unknowingly pass the bacteria to her unborn child, often during childbirth.
Group B Strep is an extremely common cause of infections of the bloodstream as well as of the lining and fluid surrounding the brain in newborns. It can also cause pneumonia. Time is of the essence with these life-threatening illnesses. Early detection and preferably prevention are the best defenses a mother has for her child.
The sadest thing about these illnesses in newborns is that the infection is often preventable in newborns. Pregnant women can be tested in late pregnancy to be sure they do not carry Group B Strep. If she tests positive, she can be given antibiotics during labor. This treatment is not 100% reliable for prevention, but it does reduce the odds.
In any case, be sure you know and make sure you are tested. Also, if you notice your newborn refuses to eat or seems to sleep more than what seems normal, INSIST on immediate medical attention. It is better to be the dreaded overprotective parent than a mourning one.
Sorry for the dark subject. I hope none of you ever have to learn about this in a more personal way.
Here are some links to pages with more information and related stories:
http://www.cdc.gov/GroupBStrep/general/gen_public_faq.htm
http://www.dhpe.org/infect/strepb.html
http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/PR/00079.html
http://www.angelfire.com/ca/gbstrep/
http://www.thejessecause.org/pages/stories.php
http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/lung/meningitis.html
In memory of Avri Lynn.
