The m other of 10 children is calling for pregnant women to be screened for an infection that puts the lives of newborn babies at risk.
Pauline Glass is urging NHS Grampian to test women for the group B streptococcus (GBS) bacterium while they are pregnant.
She was screened for the bug – the most common cause of life-threatening infection in newborn babies in the UK – during her last pregnancy and now believes it may have been to blame for problems suffered by two of her other children.
Three out of 10 pregnant women are estimated to carry GBS and it affects 700 new babies every year, but most know nothing about the bacterium.
It can be prevented by giving antibiotics during labour to women whose babies are most at risk of developing the infection.
Mrs Glass, 46, of 85 Calcots Crescent, Elgin, Moray, said she tested positive for GBS after she showed signs of complications when she was expecting her youngest child, Elysia, now six.
She now believes the infection may have caused problems for two of her other children.
Mrs Glass said: “One of them was born grunting, which is a symptom, and my other son contracted meningitis at six months old.
“What I have read has absolutely shocked me. All women should be tested for this and given information.”
NHS Grampian said no national screening programme existed because there was conflicting evidence about whether it was effective.
Screening is offered to women who are found to be at risk, but some experts fear wider tests could do more harm than good.
An NHS spokesman said: “The Royal College guidance is based on careful consideration of the benefits and harms of screening.
“One of the potential harms of screening during pregnancy is that large numbers of women would be given antibiotics during labour, which could result in death or serious injury to a very few women from an allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to the antibiotics.”