I was due to run the London Landmarks half marathon in March 2020 for Group B Strep support, a charity very close to our hearts but unfortunately due to Covid-19 the event was cancelled.

I am hopefully now taking part in the London Landmarks half marathon in March 2021 for this amazing charity.  

Our first born baby boy caught early-onset GBS infection after he was born and was very poorly. He spent 10 days on the special care unit receiving high doses of intravenous antibiotics and thankfully made a full recovery but sadly not all parents are as fortunate.   

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a normal bacterium which is carried by 20-40% of adults quite normally, most commonly in the gut, and for up to 25% of women, in the vagina, usually without symptoms or side-effects which was the case for myself. Please note GBS is not a sexually transmitted disease. GBS can occasionally cause infection, most commonly in newborn babies, sometimes in adults and, very rarely, during pregnancy and before labour. I personally was completely unaware about this infection during my first pregnancy and that i carried it. 

Approximately 1 in every 1,000 babies born in the UK develops group B Strep infection. On average in the UK, at least two babies a day develop a group B Strep infection, one baby a week dies from their GBS infection, and one baby a week survives with long-term disabilities – physical, mental or both. Thankfully our little boy recovered from the infection and is now a healthy little 4 year old. 

Most early-onset GBS infections are potentially preventable when Mums whose babies are at raised risk of developing the infection are given intravenous antibiotics in labour which was the case for myself when i had my second little boy. 

When a baby develops a group B Strep infection, Mums in particular are sometimes told that ‘you passed it on to your baby’ particularly when a newborn develops GBS infection which was the way i felt after we were told our little boy had developed this infection. This made me feel as though it was somehow my fault, i felt guilty and other mums feel the same way but its not the case!!! 

Many babies born to Mums who are carrying the bacteria become colonised themselves. A small proportion of babies – for reasons that is not fully understood– are susceptible to group B Strep and, when exposed to it, develop infection rather than being able to cope with it normally. 

Group B support charity campaign to improve awareness of group B Strep infection and for improvements in the prevention and treatment of group B Strep infection in babies, including the introduction of effective and accurate testing. 

Therefore i want to raise awareness for this amazing charity along with any donations to help other parents in our position or hopefully prevent them from being in the same position as we were in.

Every little donation is gratefully received...Thank you Jodi xx