MAKE GROUP B STREP TEST ROUTINE FOR PREGNANT WOMEN.

Information on group b strep can be found using the link below. http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Group-B-Streptococcus-grp-b-strep-in-Pregnancy/145561688804612?sk=info Our Story While pregnant i was never tested for group b strep and did not even know that it existed let alone what it was. My beautiful daughter Lilly Rose was born healthy on 25/06/2011. She had never been sick not even so much as a runny nose. After a lovely christmas things soon changed for the worse. 27/12/2011 Lilly Rose woke from her nap at 1pm vomiting. For the next 2 hours she was vomiting and her temperature was 38.9. We took her to Tallaght hospital where they said she may have a chest infection so they kept her in. Lilly looked grey in the face and was limp. She was put on a drip over night. 28/12/2011-9am Lilly Rose stopped breathing and one side of her face turned a deep purple. Doctors rushed to her side. Every 5 seconds Lilly would flat line and all i could do was keep talking to her to try keep her stimulated. At this point doctors took over and brought Lilly to theatre so she could be put on full life support and started on antibiotics for pneumoccocal meningitis. Our whole world was turning upside down and we didnt know what to be thinking or expecting. Later that day Lilly Rose was transferred to Crumlin hospital. She was brought straight to icu. We waited in a room for what seemed like an eternity when a doctor walked in and said your daughter has meningitis. The doctor explained that they were treating Lilly for pneumoccocal meningitis but would confirm the strain by the next day. 29/12/2011 We had a meeting with a team of doctors and consultants. Our worst fears are confirmed, Lilly Rose has bacterial meningitis known as Group B Strep. This infection attacks the brain and spinal fluid. It is vicious and fast acting. Our whole world was now falling apart. In the last 3 days we went from having our perfect healthy baby girl to know being faced with any parents biggest fear. Lilly Rose was put into an induced coma and had ventilater machine along with about a dozen tubes and wires covering her whole body. She was bloated from head to toe and her brain had swelled, her fontanelle was raised and everything just looked so scary. 01/01/2012 AM-Lilly has remained stable the last few days so they are weening her off the morphine. We go in to see Lilly and she is moving her arms and legs and turning her head side to side. We are allowed to wash her and dress her for the first time in days. It was the best feeling in the world. I got to change her nappy and we were then allowed to hold our precious little girl for the first time since she had been admitted to hospital. No words can explain how good that felt. PM- We go off to have some food and share our good news. Before returning i made a call to see how Lilly was getting on. It wasnt good. The nurse told me to return immediately and contact some family. I never moved so fast in my life. When we arrived in Lillys room we were met by a group of doctors. Nobody was speaking. Next another doctor walks in and introduces herself. She says im afraid Lilly has had a bad deterieration and she is very ill. Then the dreaded words that followed. Im sorry but i dont think she is going to make it through the night. We were broken hearted. How? Why? Our perfect little princess was losing her fight infront of us. 05/01/2012 We have a meeting with Lillys doctors and surgeons. They tell us Lilly may lose her eyesight, she may go deaf, she may be immobile on her right side, have learning difficulties and behaviour problems, epilepsy/hydrocephalus. But ......But...her life is now out of danger. We were so happy. I know there may be problems but she is alive and she is getting better. 09/01/2012 Lilly Rose is moved to a normal ward. She is off all life support and has been allowed feeds again although they would be given through ng tube. As the days go on Lilly Rose just keeps getting better and better. She is awake and smiling and playing. She is moving her arms and legs and her neck control is great. After some tests Lilly is finally allowed have her bottle back and she is allowed spoon feeds again. She is delighted with herself. We are over the moon. Her eyes have also started responding to light again and she can hear well too. 07/02/2012 Lilly Rose has spent the last 6 weeks in hospital. After many ups and downs and the nearly goodbye our precious little angel is now a living miracle. She is only on 1 medication and the best news of all she is allowed to come home today. All we could think was thank you god.We were getting our baby back. At last our horrific journey was over and we all came out the other end smiling.