Nicole Ditchfield's son Luca died following a severe brain injury, which the family blame on a lack of oxygen before birth and alleged poor attempts at resuscitation
A mother whose first baby lived for just one day following a normal pregnancy has told an inquest she was made to feel she was being 'over-dramatic' during repeated calls and visits to a hospital maternity unit when she went into labour.An inquest into the tragedy heard that twice Nicole visited the maternity unit but was told to go home and that, as her contractions grew stronger, she started being sick and complained of bleeding, she made 13 unanswered phone calls to the unit.
Miss Ditchfield attended the unit for a routine appointment on January 18 and was booked in for an induction on January 24. She was sent home with pain relief medication and said she was told to report back only when the contractions were coming every three minutes for at least an hour. She told the inquest doctors then examined her and concluded there was 'no evidence' her waters had broken and that there was still water around the baby's head.
"Eventually I got through but I was told it didn't seem like I was in active labour," she told the hearing, adding: "I was made to feel I was being over-dramatic." Miss Ditchfield recalled staff struggling to detect Lucas' heart beat and crying when she was told she needed an emergency Caesarean section. She said staff were 'rushing around'.
Miss Ditchfield recalled waking up and seeing her mother 'visibly upset'. "I asked mum where my baby was and she didn't answer. She started crying," said Miss Ditchfield.
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