​Issue 3: Spring 2007

The Globe​
Issue 3: Spring 2007
Welcome to the winter/spring quarter newsletter from GBSI, a non-profit organization committed to promoting GBS awareness worldwide (en español).
​Prenatal-onset Group B Strep (POGBS) Disease: Giving a Name to Group B Strep Disease Acquired before Birth and Four Courses of Action to Help in Its Prevention
Group B strep (GBS) can definitely infect babies before birth, yet there is not an official name designated for GBS disease when it causes babies to be miscarried or stillborn. To further awareness and prevention of GBS disease in all stages of a baby’s development, Group B Strep International is giving a name to GBS disease acquired before birth: Prenatal-onset Group B Strep (POGBS) Disease.
Click here to view the full-text of the article on www.obgyn.net.
​February 2007 was the First US Prenatal Infection Prevention Month
GBSI sponsored the first Prenatal Infection Prevention Month on the US National Health Observance Calendar. The March of Dimes graciously allowed GBSI to duplicate their text on the brochure, “What You Need to Know about Prenatal Infections” which is available as a .pdf brochure. Click here to download it or GBSI’s poster on prenatal infection prevention.
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​Live Chat with Urban Mamas of South Africa
​February was South African National Reproductive Awareness Month. (Feb 12 – 18 was National Pregnancy Week) as well as US Prenatal Infection Prevention Month. To help create awareness in South Africa, especially about lesser known infections such Group B Strep, Donna Baesa, Director of Urban Mamas, and Ntombenhle Msomi from Gauteng Health teamed up with GBSI to bring you a live chat open day at www.urbanmamas.co.za on Thursday 22 February 2007. Please click here to view the transcript of the chat session.
​GBSI’s Newsletter and Flyer are both available now in Spanish!
Thanks to a generous sponsorship from Dr. James C. Caillouette our materials are now being translated into Spanish! Please click here or on “en español” at the top of this newsletter to view GBSI’s first newsletter in Spanish.

GBSI’s flyer is now also available in Spanish. Please click here to view or download this flyer, which was designed for medical office bulletin boards and as a convenient guide for pregnant women once they have learned they are GBS positive.
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Please check our web site frequently for more information in Spanish as it becomes available!
​Help Send Group B Strep International to ACOG 2007!
You can help the GBSI team work with thousands of ob/gyn doctors to improve awareness and visibility of GBS disease! The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists 55th Annual Clinical Meeting is May 5-9, 2007 in San Diego, California. $7,000 is needed to fund GBSI’s participation in this important event. CLICK HERE TO HELP! ​
​Create a GBS-Angel Memorial in Time for Mother’s and/or Father’s Day
GBSI has started a GBS-Angels Memorial Page. For a small donation at GBS-Angels.com, you can have a memorial created for your little one. The memorial can include your child’s name, date of birth/loss, and a special message or poem you would like to display. If desired, you may upload a picture to be used in your memorial. You will also receive a beautiful 8×10 copy of your child’s memorial mailed to your home. All proceeds collected will go to support GBSI and its prevention and awareness efforts. Visit GBS-Angels.com.
​New Way to Support GBSI
You can now support GBSI by ordering books and products through the Amazon.com link on our home page! A portion of the proceeds will be donated to GBSI. Special thanks to Amy L. Abbey for giving GBSI this great fundraising idea!
​~ Of Special Interest ~
Amy L. Abbey, group B strep mom and editor of Journeys: Stories of Pregnancy After Loss (WovenWord Press, March 2006) will be honored on April 12, 2007 as part of the Long Island Press “52 Women of Fortune” at their first ever, Concert for Mother Earth. Amy delivered her son Solomon stillborn on March 8, 2000 at almost 20 weeks gestation. It was during her hospital stay that she learned she was Group B Strep positive. Amy receives her honor along with several other women on Long Island (NY) who have helped and inspired others.
​Join Our International GBS Awareness Campaign
You can help in our campaign to promote GBS awareness and prevention. Parents, friends, and healthcare professionals are needed to deliver our message about GBS. Here are just a few ways you can help:
Parents ~ Grandparents ~ Friends​
  • Share your GBS story on our website
  • Distribute GBSI’s brochure in your community
  • Call the health editor of your local newspaper to do an article on GBS
  • Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper
  • Wear GBS awareness ribbons (order here)
  • Check our online shop for great GBS awareness items including postage stamps, buttons, magnets, and more
  • Make GBS awareness ribbons (instructions here)
  • Provide awareness materials for your health professionals
  • Request awareness month recognition and GBS information on pregnancy boards
  • Forward GBS news articles to GBSI
  • Help GBSI raise funds to prevent GBS disease in babies around the world!
Fluent in languages other than English?​
Help GBSI to translate our written materials and communications into other languages.​
Healthcare Professionals​
  • NEW! Download GBSI’s PowerPoint slideshow for medical professionals for your next presentation!
  • Give GBSI’s brochure to your patients at their first prenatal visit
  • Give GBSI’s tear sheet to your patients when they test GBS-positive
  • Wear GBS awareness ribbons (order here)
  • Wear “I test for GBS” stickers or buttons, especially in countries without universal screening (order here)
  • Request awareness month recognition and GBS information in your workplace and on medical websites
  • Forward GBS medical articles to GBSI
Please join our awareness campaign to help prevent Group B Strep disease in babies!
​About Group B Strep International
Our mission is to promote international awareness and prevention of Group B Strep disease in babies before birth through early infancy.

Our goal is to be a central resource for GBS information in a variety of languages for both the general public and medical professionals.  The scope of our mission includes actively supporting the GBS awareness and prevention efforts of individuals and organizations on a community or national level.

Group B Strep International (GBSI) was formed in April 2006 by John MacDonald and Marti Perhach who each lost a daughter to Group B strep (GBS). Both John and Pam MacDonald’s daughter, Hannah, and Chris and Marti Perhach’s daughter, Rose, were stillborn full-term.
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John and Marti each began to promote GBS awareness and prevention on a national level throughout the United States. Group B Strep International has been founded to expand the scope and the audience of this campaign.