Supporting Families, Preventing Tragedies
Lost
Emma
Sunday, 19 May 1996
Emma died two days after birth. She died of severe brain injury caused by hypoxia, directly related to a prolonged labour. She was poisoned by her own body wastes because the midwife failed to recognise an abnormal labour which didn’t progress.
Emma suffocated in her mothers womb. She was resuscitated but had no real chance at survival. She died in her mum’s arms 44 hours after she was delivered by emergency cesarean section at Christchurch Womens Hospital.
Emma was born 9lb, 14oz. She was perfect in every way, but for the damage done to her during labour.
A coroners inquest found that the labour was outside the knowledge of the midwife, and emergency procedures should have taken effect much sooner than they did. Changes were suggested for the Birthing Centre responsible for Emma’s death.
The midwife continues to practice.
Shannon
Red Flags
RED FLAGS
- Lack of monitoring
- “Normalising” the abnormal
- Lack of action/delay in getting emergency care
- Going over due date
- Failure to progress in labour
- Meconium-stained liquor (waters)
- Lengthy handover during emergency
- Inconsistent reporting and documentation
- Your concerns being ignoredClick here to read more about common warning signs
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