Severely Compromised

Julia

Tuesday, 11 August 1998

Julia was born in 1998. She was our fifth child and the first born with only an independent midwife, the others had had GP/OBs.

My friend had lost a baby at birth due to midwife fault in 1992 just after my 4th child was born. That had affected me profoundly as I had never thought of childbirth being anything other than safe.

I knew I wanted a c-section as I had foreboding about Julia’s birth. My third labour had been 30 hours and instrumental and my fourth had been so quick the Dr commented that I should camp on hospital grounds, if I ever had another.

So did my experienced midwife take any notice of my previous deliveries, my desire for a c section – NO of course not.

She induced on against my will with the OB stating that he would section me if nothing happened with the induction. I was happy with that.

But at 4pm the midwife snuck in and administered more prostins against my will.

I went from not being effaced or dilated to delivery in less than 1 hr 20ms with my baby girl being hung by a very tight umbilical cord because of hyperstimulation of my uterus due to prostin over administration.

My child was born flat and took 20 minutes to be resuscitated. She then was pronounced healthy even tho her apgars were 1/2/4/5 at 20 minutes.

I had to explain to my older children while their new baby sister then took neonatal seizures and was flown to WN by helicopter that night, intubated and dosed on phenytoin.

We were there 2 weeks with no support, no midwife to show me how to express, no midwife to check my obs post delivery, no social worker, no money, no food and in severe shock.

My baby now has severe cerebral palsy with epilepsy. My marriage crumbled after 25 years due to the stress of caring for her.

Care support has now been received from ACC for medical misadventure but I fight with them on a daily basis.

I want nothing more than to see this midwife out of business and her paying me compensation for what she did to my family.

Nothing will ever repair the damage done to my children’s childhood, my marriage and my relationships with friends and family.

For that I will never forget nor forgive.

Maria