When my midwife came the other day I asked her about screening for GBS. She told me that it is not routine practice to screen for it as it's not funded, and that was that!!

I'm sure your all aware of the risks GBS causes to our babies. I was amazed to read that the government and health authority dont think that the death of around 700 babies a year and the permanent disability of many others warrants the cost of routine screening in pregnancy. It's a simple swab!!

If GBS is detected it's simply a case of iv antibiotics for us mums during childbirth and a course of antibiotics for our little angels after birth to prevent any harm comming to them. How dare any one tell us we cant be screened for something that could potentially be fatal to our babies - it makes me so angry.

I read in this months edition of Pregnancy & Birth that there is a website which is petitioning to have GBS screening made one of the routine tests we have during pregnancy. Please take the time to sign it on line, there's loads of info on the site too. It's gbss.org.uk It's being submitted on the 19th Jan 08, so get your partners, friends, family and any one else you can find to sign it too. Hopefully we can make a difference.

Love and hugs

Sarah & Jelly 12+3 wks. xxxx

Heya Sarah,

Thank you so much for bringing this to everyones attention, My second child Charlie contracted Group B Strep MENINGITIS when he was 2 weeks old, had i been screen routinely it would have been picked up and he wouldn't have nearly died, he is now 5 years old and we are currently having him assessed for autism/aspergers/chemical imbalance and many more problems that could have all been prevented with simple screening,and even though my son had this illness i still havn't been offered screening in this pregnancy and i wasn't offered it during my last pregnancy either...however this time i will be given the anti-biotics during labour so hopefully it will stop anything from happening.

Thank you again
much love always
Leitia xx

I still cant believe that something so potentially damaging and even fatal is not talked about very much, not understood and most importantly not tested for. It was only from reading 'Pregnancy and Birth' that I found out anything about it - lets face it, not everyone bothers with those mags.

I'm so sorry Charlie was effected, it really isnt fair that he and you as parents had to suffer something that is completely preventable.

I really hope everyone reads this and signs the petition. We cant do much but we can certainly make our voices heard.

Lots and lots of love

Sarah. xxx

Its amazing to think that it can be prevented and yet the government are still dragging their heels...PLEASE ALL LADIES WHO READ THIS SIGN THE PETITION!! don't wait for it to be something that happens to you or your child before you sign it!

I asked my MW what will happen if i don't get the antibiotics for 4+ hours (as i have labours under 2 hours) and she said "Don't worry about it" yea as if...it annoys me that something so potentially life threatening can be brushed under the carpet as if it is just a common cold, the sooner this is made compulsory testing the better.