How well informed was your GP/Midwife... - Group B Strep Sup...
How well informed was your GP/Midwife about group B strep?
My midwife never even mentioned Strep B in my appointments.. After my son passed away, she had no information whatsoever as to what could have caused his death, likewise with all the healthcare professionals involved in my labour, birth care.
My community midwife visited me once after his birth, to take my stitches out from my csection and told me it would be pointless me having a healthcare visitor.
I then received the post mortem results around 3-4months later, both GPs did not know what strep b is. The coroner could not explain what it was. The person who did the actual post mortem spoke in medical jargon..so i did not understand what it was.
I was sent for a sexual health checkup, by where the gp said they will check if i had strep b..and to my embarassment, they did not even check for it, despite me saying what i was there for..and who had sent me.
They were also unable to tell me what strep b was.
I finally, around 6-7months had a appointment with a consultant from the hospital who explained what it was and gave me a very brief two page information leaflet on strep b.
I dont feel this care is good enough..
If i had known about strep b and were given information on how i could privately get tested, i would have definitely paid 35pounds. Whats money when it comes to your childs life. 35pounds isnt going to burn a hole in my pocket..no amount would for that matter, if i knew it could help to prevent serious illnesses/permanent conditions or even the death of my child!
WE DESERVE TO BE INFORMED!
I'm so sorry, Alix, not only for your son's death, but also for the lack of information and the mis-information you were given. It's just not good enough. Yes, expectant parents do deserve to be informed, both about GBS and about where sensitive tests are available.
When I found out about I had strep B I became quite worried. I remember I read over and over that leaflet that I received at home. When I went for a routine check up I asked the midwife about it, who was not very concerned about the whole situation and told me not to worry that many women have strep B and they never find out. She said that there was nothing to worry about and that it was quite normal. I was shocked at the answer she gave me and at the little knowledge she had about it.
Strep B is a very serious condition and women have the right to be informed and given explanation about it.
Gosh, stef73, I know it's good to reassuring people that carrying GBS is normal (which it is) but to give it quite the brush off she did seems a little cavalier! Yes, when you know about GBS and have the preventative medicine, then infections in newborn babies are very rare, but even so, I'm not sure I'd quite word it as nothing to worry about! Yes, women do have the right to be properly informed about group B Strep, and health professionals should be properly educated about it too, so they can pass that information on to women in their care.
My midwife never mentioned GBS & I have spoken with her about it since... She said she was vaguely aware of GBS before it caused our Ella to be born sleeping at 41 wks 2 days. She has only known a few babies affected by it before, none of whom thankfully had any lasting damage, she was told that it is very rare & had no training on the risk factors (neither was my other midwife) & because the NHS do not feel it is high risk & they do not test for it & also cause I had such a fantastic pregnancy, she never even thought to say!
To begin with I was very angry & disappointed with, and I know she will never forgive herself. She now tests mosts of her ladies & makes them aware of the risks. I am thankful for her support. Like she says, it's least she can do...
In my first 2 pregnancies my MW never mentioned it. In my pregnancy after loss, I brought it up every time I saw my MW! My GP knew a little about it, but the most shocking has got to be the consutant who I saw in the antenatal clinic, on the first appointment of my next pregnancy following the loss of my son.
I was pushing him on the facts and what he would do about it) and he said 'GBS is only a problem in labour, you have a living breathing child on your lap, what are you worried about?' I was gobsmacked and shocked, the vile doctor has obiously not read the notes correctly. My son was born prematurely with no explanation, then had late onset GBS meningitus and septicemia (aged 20 days NOT during labour) and he then died from the infection.....that is what I was worried about 
Silly arrogant man. I was absolutly furious, so furious I couldn't even speak so I left and immeditaly rang my MW to complain and tell her to get me a new consultant as I wasn't seeing him again EVER.
Shocking that attitudes and knowledge is soo terrible in this day and age. The hospital who treated Cayden in the end, gave us some information, but most of our facts we got from GBSS after Cayden has passed away. We are forever grateful to them for providing us with the actual facts! x
I only found out to be a carrier after the baby was born, the midwife who came to visit me at home told me about the results. She herself had no clue what the Strep B was and what to do about it, so she had to call the hospital, who told her I don't need to do anything, but watch if the baby becomes unwell then bring it to hospital right away and that it will affect next pregnancy.
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