July is Group B Strep (GBS) Awareness Month and as one of Group B Strep Support (GBSS)’s legal partners we are keen to do what we can to help them raise awareness of GBS.

GBS is a common bacteria, which we carry without coming to any harm, but in babies it can cause death, or life changing disability. On average 66 babies a month are diagnosed with group B Strep infection in the UK and Republic of Ireland. Most recover but tragically of those 66, four die and six are left with long term physical or mental disabilities.

Yet, we know that there are still many families out there who have not heard of GBS or feel they do not know enough about it. The statistics prove that, and GBSS have just conducted a survey of new mothers, which revealed that 66% of those surveyed would like to learn more about GBS from their health professionals (New mothers left in the dark about life-threatening infection in newborns - Group B Strep Support (gbss.org.uk))

We at JMW also know that more awareness is needed because we are regularly being asked to advise families whose lives have been devastated by GBS. They tell us that they did not know about GBS or about the dangers it could pose to their babies before they became pregnant and that they were not told of the risks, availability of testing or possible preventative treatment by their midwives or doctors during their antenatal care. Those parents have been left wishing they had known – and we want to help raise awareness so hopefully fewer families have to suffer what they have been through.

Families not informed

The families we act for should have been told about GBS by those providing their maternity care, but that is sadly still not happening in every maternity unit. When one of our clients asked their hospital obstetrician why they had not been told about GBS, she told them that she and her staff had to ‘weigh up’ how much information to give to families and were worried about causing harm by telling mothers about GBS in the antenatal period.

I find this extremely worrying. The courts have been very clear that it is not for medical professionals to make decisions for their patients and that patients, in this case parents, should be fully informed of the risks facing their babies and their testing and treatment options. GBSS and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) have produced a leaflet which can be given to expectant parents which does exactly that. All the necessary information is there to ensure that families can make fully informed decisions. You can access the leaflet here - Group-B-Strep-in-Pregnancy-and-Newborn-Babies-WEB.pdf (gbss.org.uk)

Whilst we do not want anyone to be worried unnecessarily, families do have a right to know about the risks their baby may face and have the chance to prevent their baby developing what can be a very serious infection. My clients lost their baby at 14 hours of age as a result of GBS. The harm they have suffered obviously cannot compare to the harm that their obstetrician may have been worried about.

Tragically, our clients’ experience demonstrates how there is still not sufficient awareness of GBS. Even now, it is not always being discussed antenatally, the GBSS and RCOG leaflet is not being used and many women remain unaware of the risks of GBS.

With that in mind we highlight below some basic information about GBS and what parents need to know to reduce the risk to them and their baby.

What should everyone know about GBS?

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

How can the risks babies face from GBS 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, 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 a having a test to see if you are carrying group B Strep. As explained above, 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: https://gbss.org.uk/info-support/group-b-strep-testing/should-i-get-a-group-b-strep-test/
• 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. By doing so you may help them to avoid the heartache that sadly our clients are now suffering.