GBS awareness in UK and link to Petition for NHS funded GBS test

[cherryness]

Hi everyone,

I've only recently been made aware of this risk factor, Group B Streptococcus infection in newborns, my GP or Midwife mentioned nothing to me about the risks involved even if they are tiny. This has made me very passionate about trying to raise some awareness. I have found the epetition to ask our government to approve that the NHS should offer Group B streptococcus testing to every pregnant woman 35 -37 weeks gestation. I realise this bacteria is very rarely is passed onto babies but if we can reach out to the little amount of people who are carriers of this bacteria we can prevent it very effectively. It could save the few babies that would have been affected from death / disability and save those families heartache that could have otherwise been avoided.

This test is routinely carried out on pregnant women in USA, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Canada, Australia, Kenya and Argentina. Published papers report reductions of 70-86% in early onset group B Strep infections in France, Spain and Australia whilst, as expected, the rate of late onset GBS infection in babies has remained constant. (this is taken from wikipedia)

Please take the time to read through the petition and sign up! The more people we can get to sign the more they will listen to our concerns!

Copy and paste into your website address bar to sign up: https://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/4854

The website also offers information/support too. https://www.gbss.org.uk/index.php

It also has links to where you can privately request the test for GBS on this website since NHS do not offer it.

Thanks to Sazibubba on this site for telling me about this risk factor otherwise i wouldnt have had a clue! x

 

[sazibubba]

ill sign if i hadnt of tested i would of never known that i was a gbs carrier and now i can get the treatment i need for baby and me xxxxxx


tnx cherryness for raising this awareness xxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[chickchock]

I'll sign, though sadly have signed previous ones too and we're still in the same situation. I think all women should atleast be made aware of the risks, and told were they can go for a private test if they so choose (at £32 its not like its inconceivable people will want to do it). Just a leaflet in the pregpack or something would be better than the complete silence most mw's give to this subject.

 

[Cuffy]

It's a really important thing for mums to be aware of but it's been going on so long I don't think the government will change it's mind I have signed so many petitions but I'll sign anyway, also testing kits are available online which they will send to you for FREE and you only pay when you return the kit mine is £30 and I can't think of £30 better spent-I'm not rolling in cash but there are things I prioritise and this is one of them.

 

[cherryness]

I'll sign, though sadly have signed previous ones too and we're still in the same situation. I think all women should atleast be made aware of the risks, and told were they can go for a private test if they so choose (at £32 its not like its inconceivable people will want to do it). Just a leaflet in the pregpack or something would be better than the complete silence most mw's give to this subject.

Yeah totally agree here. awareness would be nice, shame theres no mention at all to mums to bes. At least then people can make an informed choice on whether they want a test or not.

 

[sazibubba]

not fair that they cant even give us the information during pregnancy to even raise our awareness so we can decide for ourselfs. instead they keep super silent.