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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

My cousin lost her 6 week old baby... please help!

19 replies

dawnydouglas84 · 16/04/2012 20:49

Please read her story at:
meningitisuk.tributefunds.com/fund/Callum+Charlie+Towne/showFund/

The meningitis that Callum contracted was from an infection called GBS, which may have been detected if screening had been offered during pregnancy. If it had been detected antibitotics could have been given and saved his life.

Please sign the following petition to show support (it takes 2mins) and get the government to act on it and make the screening available to everyone during pregnancy. Once you have done this please share with everyone you know via facebook, we need 100,000 signatures by August 2012 to even get it looked at. So far there are 10,000.

epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/4854

Thanks so much for reading,
Dawn x
find us on facebook www.facebook.com/groups/185601608211287

OP posts:

Original poster

dawnydouglas84 · 16/04/2012 20:50

Please read her story at:
meningitisuk.tributefunds.com/fund/Callum+Charlie+Towne/showFund/

epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/4854

Thanks so much for reading,
Dawn x
find us on facebook www.facebook.com/groups/185601608211287

OP posts:

Northernlurker · 16/04/2012 20:51

I'm so sorry for your loss. GBS screening is a prime area where more could be done for the health of women and babies. Good luck with the campaign.

KittieCat · 16/04/2012 21:12

Done. So sorry for your family's loss but well done for trying to make a difference.

mellowcat · 16/04/2012 21:21

I have signed. I am so sorry for your loss.

TheScottishPlayer · 16/04/2012 21:26

I'm so very sorry for your family's loss. Duly signed.

oikopolis · 16/04/2012 22:49

very sorry for your loss and i hope you get all the signatures you need.

it's shocking that this testing still isn't routine in the UK. (am not in UK myself. it's routine here and has been for yonks afaik.) really hope this makes a difference. so preventable, so tragic :(

DonnaDoon · 17/04/2012 07:37

Done , I totally agree something needs to be done about this. My SIL and nephew had this and were luckily treated with antibiotics straightaway but still...Very sorry for your loss.

babyheave1662 · 17/04/2012 07:41

I agree, my 1st DS spent a week in the NICU when born with a GBS infection and I often wonder if it's the root cause of his SN now.

goingmadtrying · 17/04/2012 07:53

Im so so sorry for you and your families loss, absolutely heart breaking

I've signed the petition and wish your family lots and lots of luck

blackcatsdancing · 17/04/2012 08:07

signed, so sorry for the loss to your family . we don't test anywhere near as much as some european countries, very shortsighted .

angelpuss · 17/04/2012 08:35

So sorry for your loss . Have signed, and will share via facebook when I get home tonight.

My great nephew spent 8 weeks in SCBU when he was born, with meningitis from a group b strep infection. I asked about testing when I was pregnant and was told that they wouldn't test routinely unless they thought there was a risk!

caija · 17/04/2012 09:02

Petition signed. This story is heart breaking, there are no words that can justify the impact of this tragic story :( Godbless wee Callum and his mummy n daddy :( You are at peace now lil man, this shud never have happened...if the Nhs would just get their finger out n screen routinely for strep b! I suffered it in my 2nd pregnancy, with my ds, it was picked up while they were testing for something else, can't remember what tho, this was a good few weeks before he was due...there was no time for antibiotics in labour they sed. So ds had none, I think I had some afterwards. My ds was apparently fine, even tho he was resuscitated right after emergency cs, he s severely disabled due to a chromosome/genetic disorder, but Defo makes me wonder if group b strep had any impact. I am now 13 weeks preg with dc3 and strep b was picked up a couple of weeks ago and I was given antibiotics. This country and Nhs are a joke

DesperateHousewife21 · 17/04/2012 09:06

So sorry for your loss, I have signed. I really hope you get the 100,000 you need.

My niece had this at 2 weeks old, luckily she got through it with no ill effects but unfortunately that's not always the way

mo3g · 17/04/2012 09:23

So sorry for your loss a heartbreaking story :( Have Signed

roundtable · 17/04/2012 09:35

So sorry for your family's loss.

I have already signed the petition as I found out I had GBS. Weirdly, I was very luckily to have my waters break followed by a three day labour so this meant I was tested.

Otherwise, it would have gone undiscovered and I dread to think what could have happened.

If there's a next time, I shall be stamping my feet for testing.

Hope enough signatures are collected.

nearlymumofone · 17/04/2012 10:03

That is heartbreaking. So so sorry for your loss.

I have signed the petition.

Does anyone know how you can get tested for this since it's not offered on nhs? I remember when I was pregnant with ds I asked to be tested but was refused.

nearlymumofone · 17/04/2012 10:06

Found a link for private testing:

www.medisave.co.uk/group-b-streptococcus-screening-test-p-7896.html?gclid=CJu5sc7Du68CFcYOfAodeDDxjg

littlelamb1980 · 17/04/2012 10:13

Such a sad story, it truly is heart breaking. Have signed the petition and am thinking of your cousin and her family.

MCT76 · 17/04/2012 11:09

I have also signed and I am fighting off the tears after reading your cousin's story and seeing beautiful Callum's face. As she well put it, they will never get over his loss but she is doing an amazing thing by campaigning and raising awareness in his memory and I hope they will find some form of solace in the valuable work that they are doing for others.

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