In March of this year, I represented a family whose baby boy died at just 14 hours old as a result of group B Strep (GBS) infection at a four day inquest into his death. His parents had not heard of GBS and did not know about the risk it posed to their baby, the fact that it could be tested for or that antibiotics should be given in certain circumstances. They were not told what the signs to look out for in their baby, either.

In May I was contacted by a new mum, who had been sent home from hospital by a midwife after her waters had broken despite it being known that she carried GBS. She was admitted to hospital later that same night with sepsis due to infection with GBS and her baby showing signs of distress. She had to undergo an emergency caesarean section.

In June I attended a meeting with independent medical experts to discuss with another mum the severe brain damage and cerebral palsy her baby boy had suffered at the time of his birth, caused by group B Strep infection. She had not heard of GBS either and did not know that she had tested positive for it or that she and/or her baby should have been offered antibiotics.

These are just some of the terrible tragedies I see caused by GBS. This is why I am working with Group B Strep Support and why I want to raise awareness not only of the existence of group B Strep, but also the effects of this terrible disease on mum and baby, how it can be tested for and how infections can be prevented and treated. It goes without saying that each of these families we are working with wish they had been fully informed and properly advised before their lives were turned upside down.

What should everyone know about GBS?

GBS is a common bacteria, which we carry without coming to any harm, but what everyone should know is:

• It can cause dangerous infections in babies, which can cause severe life-long injury or death.
• You can carry it without knowing you do.
• In the UK pregnant women are not routinely tested for GBS.
• Antibiotics given in labour (or very quickly if your baby has signs of infection) can reduce the risk of your baby becoming seriously unwell.

How to find out more about GBS

The families we act for should have been told about GBS by those providing their maternity care, but were not informed. In some maternity units there seems to be lack of education about the risks of GBS and it seems some hospital staff ‘weigh up’ how much information to give to families because they are concerned about worrying mothers about GBS in the antenatal period. Whilst no one wants to worry a pregnant woman unnecessarily, there is no doubt that the families we act for would much rather have been slightly anxious at points during their pregnancy than face the terrible loss and injury caused by GBS.

National guidance from Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that pregnant women should be provided with information on group B Strep.

GBSS and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) have produced a leaflet which explains more about the risk of GBS in pregnancy. You can read the leaflet here.

How can the risks of GBS be reduced?

If you are pregnant or worried about GBS here are some ways that the risk of infection can be reduced:

• If you have previously had a baby who developed GBS infection, then you should be offered antibiotics during your labour in your subsequent pregnancies.
• If you know you or your baby had an infection in a previous pregnancy, ask what that infection was and whether it was GBS.
• If GBS was found in a previous pregnancy and your baby was unaffected you can have a test to see if you are carrying GBS during your current pregnancy. If the test is positive, you should be offered antibiotics in labour, if negative your risk is low and you would not automatically be offered antibiotics.
• Even if you have not carried GBS before, during your pregnancy ask about having a test to see if you are carrying group B Strep. Testing is not routinely offered in the UK, but you can sometimes get a test. If you are not entitled on the NHS, you can pay for a test if you can afford it. Read more about testing here.
• If your test reveals you are carrying GBS you should be offered antibiotics in labour.
• If you go into labour early and/or have signs of placental or fetal infection, you should be given antibiotics.
• If your baby shows signs of GBS infection after birth, they should be treated immediately with antibiotics.

Please share this information with anyone you know who is pregnant or planning a family to help us and GBSS raise awareness. By doing so you may help them to avoid the heartache that our clients are now suffering.