When a Kentucky Birth Injury Leads to a Group B Strep Infection

Giving birth can be a nerve-wracking experience. As a parent, you hope for the best during the pregnancy, labor and delivery. Sadly, in some cases a medical mistake can lead to a Group B Strep infection, when the bacteria is not properly detected or treated by the delivering doctor.

What is Group B Strep?
Group B Strep, or GBS, is a bacterial infection in the mother that can be passed to the newborn. GBS is most often found in the mother's vagina and rectum. Nearly 1 in 4 women have GBS.

Many types of birth injuries can arise in the newborn if GBS is not properly diagnosed and treated. A newborn could be at risk of any of the following:

 

• Blood infection
• Meningitis
• Pneumonia
• Death

 

Diagnosing and treating GBS
Women should be screened for GBS between 35 to 37 weeks of pregnancy. If you test positive for GBS, you and your newborn will be treated during labor and delivery. GBS is generally treated with antibiotics, including penicillin and is administered through an IV.

If your child is suffering complications from GBS, which was not properly diagnosed and treated at birth, you should call an experienced Kentucky birth injury attorney at Gray and White Law at (502) 210-8942 or (800) 634-8767. We have helped many families throughout Kentucky recover damages.