Parents need good information to help them to know about and be able to spot signs of infection in babies.
I wrote about this in Group B Strep Explained.
I also discussed it in my blog post about the updated UK guidance on preventing early onset group B strep (GBS) disease (Hughes et al 2017).
Why parents need information
That update called for all pregnant women to be provided with appropriate information about group B strep, a bacteria carried by about a third of all adults which usually causes no harm.
But a very small number of babies develop an infection when they encounter the GBS bacteria during or shortly after birth. This may have come from their mum, or from someone else who has picked them up.
In a few cases, group B strep infections can be very serious. As can infections with other types of bacteria. So it is important that parents know about this. That’s for two reasons. First, they can then make the decisions that are right for them about the screening and preventative measures that are offered in relation to GBS. But it also means that they are aware of the signs and symptoms of infection in babies, no matter what they choose for their own care.
Parents who opt to decline GBS screening and treatment have found this sort of information especially useful.
So what do parents need to know?
There are a few key signs to be aware of and look out for. Any baby can pick up an infection, and this is information that all new parents should have.
Before I list the signs of infection in babies, however, there’s one really important piece of advice I want us to be offering to all parents:
Trust your instincts!
No-one knows your baby or cares about your baby better than you do.
So follow your instincts, and seek urgent medical help if you’re concerned.
Signs of infection in babies
Some of the key indicators that a baby may have an infection include:
- An abnormal temperature (by which we mean a body temperature below 36oC or above 38oC which isn’t explained by environmental factors (such as the baby being in a particularly cold or hot room). Many babies have slightly cool hands and feet, especially if they’re not wearing booties and mitts, so it’s better to check their core temperature. If their body seems hot, get medical advice.
- Abnormal behaviour, for example inconsolable crying, or listlessness. This is one of the reasons we say that it’s important to follow your gut instinct, especially if you are concerned, as parents know their baby best.
- Fast breathing can also be a sign of infection. If a baby seems to take pauses when breathing, this should also be checked out.
- A baby who is ‘floppy’.
- Feeding difficulties, or not tolerating feeds. This is not uncommon in babies, and there can be many reasons for this, but it’s important that parents are aware that feeding difficulties can sometimes be a sign of infection.
- Lastly, a change in skin colour can be a sign of infection in babies. For example, if a baby’s skin is paler than usual, blue (including the lips), mottled, or if they have a rash. Changes in skin colour can sometimes be harder to spot in darker-skinned babies, so take care to look for other signs.
It is important to know that a baby with an infection may not have all of these signs.
Again, if parents have any concerns, they should seek qualified medical help.
Learn more about Group B Strep
You can find out lots more about group B strep and related topics in my book, Group B Strep Explained.
This book was written to help parents, professionals and birth workers to understand the issues and the evidence relating to screening and prophylaxis (prevention) for group B strep. You can find out more about the book here.
Please note: the reason that I tell people they need to buy/read/refer to the red GBS book and not the old white/green one is because this guidance changed when the new guidelines were published in 2017. Which is why I wrote the new edition.
The information in the white/green edition is now several years out of date.
If you’re still using that one, please treat yourself to the one that’s up-to-date!
It’s really important that parents can get information to help them make the decisions that are right for them, and also to know the signs of a baby not being well.
I hope you’ll find this useful.
Hughes RG, Brocklehurst P, Steer PJ, Heath P, Stenson BM on behalf of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Prevention of early-onset neonatal group B streptococcal disease. Green-top Guideline No. 36. BJOG 2017; DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.14821.
About the Author: Dr Sara Wickham is an author, speaker, and researcher specialising in pregnancy, birth and maternity care. Her work focuses on evidence-based, woman-centred information and informed decision-making, drawing on more than 30 years of midwifery knowledge and experience.
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