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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Injury during childbirth - negligence?

26 replies

MissMollieO · 23/01/2022 03:15

I have requested my birth notes to fully understand what happened during my labour and birth.

While giving birth to my son I had a qualified midwife looking after me but also a student midwife shadowing her who I later found out had only delivered 4 babies under supervision.

2 incidents happens while giving birth and I feel it was due to lack of supervision of the student midwife that these occurred.

Firstly, I was left with a 2nd degree tear which has left me in some pain. This happened when the qualified midwife left the room to get equipment after Informing me I needed an episiotomy.
While she was away the student midwife told me to continue to push during my contraction and as I had an epidural I was unaware that I was tearing.
When the senior midwife returned she said I had torn badly. She looked very annoyed with the student but didn't say anything in my presence.

As a result of the tear, I lost a lot of blood and my heart rate was sky high. I had to remain in hospital longer than expected while they tried to stabilise my heart rate.

Secondly, as I had an epidural, I also had a catheter. After birth, still numb from the epidural, the student midwife was asked to remove my catheter and did so with the balloon still inflated and intact, hence pulling it through my urethra and I believe causing damage and trauma.

Again the midwife didn't say anything in my presence but looked very shocked.

How do I go about asking more about these incident to be explained and I investigated and why it was allowed to happen?

Has anyone else experience anything like this?

OP posts:
Totalwasteofpaper · 23/01/2022 06:34

Oh my god...what have I just read.

Is this in your medical notes?

Yes I would pursue this fully
you poor woman Flowers

Neurodiversitydoctor · 23/01/2022 06:40

Removing the catheter with the ball in inflated- Shock

The tearing - well clear cut I would say, you can't really "pause" the pushing phase the baby might become distressed.

Original poster
MissMollieO · 23/01/2022 19:49

@Totalwasteofpaper

I don't know I haven't received them yet so
I'll be interested to see if it mentions any of this.

OP posts:
mummyh2016 · 23/01/2022 21:19

I wouldn't say the tearing is negligent, I suffered a 2nd degree tear and didn't feel it happening without having had an epidural. You'd have likely tore anyway, it's not a rare thing to happen.

dementedpixie · 23/01/2022 21:26

I had a 2nd degree tear with no epidural so wouldn't think that's a fault of the midwife. The catheter thing sounds like a lack of supervision and training

GrapefruitPink · 23/01/2022 21:29

Catheter is very poor.
Tearing was probably going to happen.

RaisinforBeing · 23/01/2022 21:32

Goodness. I had a 2nd to 3rd degree tear and was sewn up afterwards. It was done so badly it had to be unpicked and done again. I still have a huge tear on the outer lips that just looks weird. I also had a student at the birth and an epidural. I’m not sure what went wrong.

stairway · 23/01/2022 21:35

If she told you to push when you were crowning then that is wrong. The catheter thing is really bad too.

BurnDownTheDiscoHangTheDJ · 23/01/2022 21:37

Sady this is down to midwifery training standards falling over the past five years. They pack out degree courses to help fill the shortage of midwives but this means that they all and up with short placements and are trained poorly with a hotchpotch of differing supervisors, never getting a feel for the job in one hospital of department for long enough.

What happened to you @MissMollieO with the catheter is awful and you should get a debrief but it will become more and more common as students are let down more and more. Vote for parties willing to invest in proper training for NHS staff is the best thing anyone can do longer term.

User478 · 23/01/2022 21:43

You should be offered a debrief to go through it.

I found mine was an exercise in the hospital covering it's arse and trying to convince me not to take anything further.

You definitely should.

MojoJojo71 · 23/01/2022 21:44

An inexperienced student should not have been left unsupervised with delivery imminent, the midwife should have asked someone else to fetch her equipment or sent the student to fetch it. I would definitely bring that to the attention of the head of midwifery.

The catheter thing is also down to poor supervision. I would have hoped they would have at least recognised that was an error and apologised and made sure a plan was in place to follow up.

WorstXmasEver · 23/01/2022 21:49

My partner was told it was too risky to have any more kids after they messed up the chemicals that they induce contractions with.

This tore her womb & left her needing 5 pints of blood & an emergency caesarean.

We were told by a solicitor it would be hard to prove any negligence.

Tottie · 23/01/2022 22:04

Oh my word that's appalling. The catheter incident, indeed shows a lack of knowledge and training and needs to be investigated. As for the midwife leaving the room to get equipment to perform an episiotomy??? That's shocking. The midwife should have already had, all that she needed to assist with delivery and should never have left you with a student as the head is crowning and you're delivering. If something else was required by the midwife, the safest and wisest thing to do, would be to use the call buzzer and get a third member of staff to retrieve what ever was needed. The midwife's own practice is very concerning and also needs reporting. Are you being invited to sit with a senior midwife, whilst you look through your notes so any questions you may have can be addressed?
I'm so sorry this has happened to you and I really think you should take this further.

Original poster
MissMollieO · 25/01/2022 12:26

@Tottie no they are being posted to my home. To be honest I don't know how much sense I will be able to make of them but I'd like to have a look and then ask for a debrief from my gp or a midwife if that would be possible.

OP posts:
DoubleShotEspresso · 25/01/2022 12:31

Hi OP I had a very traumatic birth due to incompetence of agency midwives, but later had a debrief session which was a very worthwhile process in helping me to make sense of it. I also lost loads of blood and had a 3rd degree tear, have memory blanks and very nearly died , along with our child who fortunately did make it successfully. However I do on reflection genuinely believe that many of the "special needs" that were identified years later were a direct result of this. Many consultants have shared this view. It makes no difference now of course, but flagging this to the team may well assist others.
I hope you're okay x

TomAllenWife · 25/01/2022 12:39

If you want to know if you have a claim then speak to a medical negligence lawyer

No point in seeing GP for de brief and the hospital will cover their own arses

It's notoriously difficult to prove medical negligence and prove the effect it has had on you

I was successful in my claim but it took 4 years and a lot of heartache

PinotPony · 25/01/2022 13:09

Medical negligence solicitor here.

You've done the right thing by requesting your medical records. I would suggest you also make a written complaint to the Trust. Many hospitals have PALS (Patient Advisory Liaison Service) who can help you with this. Be warned... it may take a few months for them to investigate and respond particularly in the current pandemic.

Once you've received your records and a written response to your complaint, consult a specialist solicitor. AvMA will be able to recommend one in your area.

You have 3 years from the date of negligence to issue court proceedings but you should obtain legal advice as soon as you can.

Original poster
MissMollieO · 25/01/2022 14:38

@PinotPony

How much is it on average to pursue a claim? Just having a baby and going part time we aren't exactly rolling in extra cash.

OP posts:
TarDisKinseia · 25/01/2022 14:43

@stairway

If she told you to push when you were crowning then that is wrong. The catheter thing is really bad too.
Agreed. I was told sternly to stop pushing so that I didn’t tear. They can tell you to stop pushing.
PinotPony · 25/01/2022 15:11

[quote MissMollieO]@PinotPony

How much is it on average to pursue a claim? Just having a baby and going part time we aren't exactly rolling in extra cash. [/quote]
As legal aid is no longer available for this type of case, most solicitors will act under a conditional fee agreement (no win no fee). This effectively means you pay nothing if the claim is unsuccessful.

You should also check whether you have any legal expenses cover on your household insurance.

Your solicitor may also recommend an After the Event insurance policy to cover the costs of expert fees and court fees, which will need to paid regardless of whether you win or lose.

A good solicitor will explain all the funding to you in detail so you understand what sums might be deducted from compensation.

Original poster
MissMollieO · 02/02/2022 19:23

Just an update.

I received my medical notes today and there is no mention of the incident with the catheter documented or of why I tore so badly.

OP posts:
mummyh2016 · 02/02/2022 20:51

There wouldn't be a reason you tore though, it was only second degree which is common. There was no reason in my notes either explaining why I suffered a second degree tear, just that it happened. 90% of women tear during childbirth and second degree is the most common apparently. I would expect the issue with the catheter to be mentioned though so I would follow that up.

Noddle2015 · 02/02/2022 21:04

With my first, I had fourth degree tears. Long story short I went in with contractions I wasn’t dilated enough sent home and told I wouldn’t be back for at least around 8 hours. I was back within 40 mins via ambulance and was 10cm dilated, was told I could have pain relief and to push. I was pushing for hours and hours and my bad was stuck, my mum kept telling my midwife I need a section but she stated there wasn’t a theatre available. A lady came down and they decided I need suction to get baby out. Suction went in and when pulled out they discovered it wasn’t attached properly to the baby and ripped through me at speed and force and tore me to piece the lady keep apologising and everybody in the room stood in horror. Afterwards I was ‘stuffed’ with dressing and left lying there until a theatre became available for me to go and be stitched up. I’ve had a lot of problems ever since and the hospital itself ran tests and agreed the outcome was traumatic. However, I was told it would be near impossible to be able to take them to court as it very rarely has been possible to sue a nhs hospital.

What happened to you was shocking, it’s so sad that these things happen. I hope you get somewhere, but I would defiantly get your notes and asked to be looked at to assess your injuries and the impact it could have on your life. Am sorry to hear your story, and I hope you get somewhere.

Seaglass87 · 02/02/2022 21:07

Firstly I am so sorry. That all sounds so horrific for you.
To find out more and complain you can put in a request via PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service) and they can investigate and get back to you.

Cascata · 23/10/2022 23:48

this sounds similar to my birth.
I gave birth with hardly any tearing and was told maybe one stitch. I retained the placenta and I had the rudest registra try to remove it manually, tore me apart and ripped chucks of placenta and blood across the room and then blamed me for moving my legs to much to why he couldn’t get it. Wasn’t offered any pain relief other then gas and air. Went to theatre as all he did was manage to rupture the placenta. The theatre team refused to put me under, I kept asking them to eventually after 4 hours they did as I could smell all the blood coming out of me and then punching my lungs. Basically bleed out had no catheter in as it fell out and nearly died. I’ve been left a mess emotional and physically. with no answer. Keep getting palmed off. So will be interested to know how you get on. Sorry for my long story but need some help on where to take this. I’ve contacted pals months ago but they haven’t sent me my medical or surgical records that I requested