This morning we got to hold Tatum! The doctor says she is doing so much better and they know what she has - the infection in her blood is called Group B Streptococcal Disease. It is a common type of bacterium that can cause a variety of infections in newborns. Tatum probably got the bacteria from Summer during birth. Summer was tested for this bacteria five weeks prior to delivery, but was negative. So Summer must have got the infection recently. Many pregnant women carry these bacteria where they can easily pass to the newborn if the mother hasn’t been treated with antibiotics.

Babies with GBS often show symptoms of infection within the first week of life, although some develop symptoms weeks or months later. Depending on the infection the symptoms might include trouble breathing or feeding, a high temperature, or unusual crankiness. Which are all symptoms we have seen in Tatum.

Yesterday the doctors ran blood tests and took cultures of blood. This morning the doctors took cerebrospinal fluid to look for bacteria. Doctors use a spinal needle to do a lumbar puncture for the cerebrospinal fluid. Infections caused by GBS are treated with antibiotics, as well as careful care and monitoring in the hospital. Tatum has been getting antibiotics and personal care since five hours after her birth.

Summer was told at lunch that Tatum can breastfeed after 3:30pm today. This is really big since Tatum hasn’t been feed since two hours after birth. We are very excited about this bonding moment.

We are not out of the woods yet, but should be able to take her home the afternoon of June 1st if all goes well. Summer and I will be “nesting” in the hospital through the Memorial Day weekend. Visitors are welcomed with Taco Bueno (jk!) for Summer in hand and a call prior to coming.

Categories: baby mccool