Grieving couple's warning over bug

Rebecca Hinchliff, aged 20, and partner Allan Green lost their son Jaden at just 10 days old after he was struck by the Group B Streptococcus bug - the most common life-threatening infection in newborn babies.

The bacteria lives harmlessly in the intestines of a third of adults in the UK, but if a pregnant women is infected there is a chance she could pass it onto her unborn baby during childbirth. The infection affects about 700 babies a year and kills around 90.

Today Rebecca, from Eckington, said: “We are going through a very difficult time and the hurt and upset at losing our baby boy will never go away. Our aim is to make other expectant mothers aware of the infection.”

Jaden was born fit and well in Chesterfield Royal Hospital in June.

But a week later at home he refused his feed. Rebecca and Allan, 35, took him to an emergency doctor who thought the problem was constipation and advised them to continue to feed him through the night.

When he continued to refuse his milk they sought more medical advice and were urged to take him to Chesterfield Royal Hospital.

Once there his health took a turn for the worse. Jaden had a fit and stopped breathing. He was transferred to Sheffield Children’s Hospital where he died.

The couple were told that, once Group B Streptococcus takes hold in tiny babies, there is little hope of survival.

Now, by sharing their experiences, the couple want to alert other parents to the dangers of the infection.

They are backing campaigning group the Pregnancy and Birth Group B Strep Awareness Campaign which is pressing the Government to introduce a new more reliable test for the infection, which costs 32 and is only available from a private company, to be offered to all women in late pregnancy on the NHS.

The test is 95 per cent reliable and, if it comes back positive, women can be given antibiotics during labour. Infected newborns are given antibiotics until the infection clears.

Rebecca and Allan are now raising cash for Sheffield Children’s Hospital as a ‘thank you’ for the care Jaden received.

Their first fundraiser was achieved thanks to Rebecca’s cousin Stuart Hardy, 31, from North Wingfield, who competed in the Great North Run and raised 800 in sponsorship.

The money will go to the Bear 2 appeal which is aiming to raise 120,000 to provide a new ambulance to transport poorly youngsters to Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

n To make a donation to Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity please contact the charity office by visiting www.sheffieldchildrenshospital.org.uk or by calling on 0114 2717203. Also see The Star’s website www.thestar.co.uk for more on the appeal.