Mum forced to give birth to her dead baby boy at 20 weeks is horrified when he ‘FELL to the floor’ during delivery
The couple claim the midwife only picked up their baby and covered him in a surgical cloth after they begged her to do so
A HEARTBROKEN couple claim hospital staff let their dead baby fall to the floor as he was delivered.
Fay Percival, 30, claims a midwife at Conquest Hospital, in St Leonards-on-Sea in East Sussex, did not help her as she gave birth.
Fay and her partner, Danny Hempton, claim their baby dropped to the floor and they were treated “without dignity or respect”.
The hospital, near Hastings, has since apologised to the couple following a formal complaint.
Fay and Danny, who also have a five-year-old daughter Poppy, were overjoyed to find out they were expecting their second child.
But, after a smooth pregnancy, Fay began bleeding at 19 weeks.
Scans later revealed their son had died in the womb.
Fay, from Eastbourne in East Sussex, was given medication to induce labour and she delivered him on June 12.
If a baby dies before 24 weeks it is classified as a miscarriage or late foetal loss rather than a still birth, according to the NHS.
Fay said: “I delivered at 20 weeks plus one day.
“We were devastated when we were told there wasn't a heartbeat.
“I had felt less movement than normal and though I'd been told by the hospital that was okay, we were not offered to come in for a check.
“It was only when I suffered a small bleed that we returned to the hospital and were given scans before being told the awful news.
“Just a week earlier we had been excitedly planning for our future with a new baby and it was heartbreaking to know he had died.”
After Fay went into labour the couple were taken into a room and were met by a midwife.
Fay was given air and gas for pain relief and gave birth 45 minutes later.
She added: “I wanted to give birth standing up and was very calm the whole time but I felt there was no compassion from the midwife.
“I started to say 'I think he is going to come' and 'I think he is coming' but the midwife didn't help me.
“I said 'help me' and was telling her 'I cannot catch him, help me' and then my son dropped to the floor.
“I let out a massive scream, I was so devastated that he had fallen. I was screaming and crying.
“My partner heard our son fall, he is traumatised from hearing the sound of our baby hitting the floor. I was in shock.
“The birth was the only time we were going to have with our son and it would have been emotional and heartfelt and hard but what happened was an absolute tragedy.
“There is nothing we can save from that birth, it was traumatic and it is tarnished.”
The couple claim the midwife only picked up their baby and covered him in a surgical cloth before placing him on a bench after they begged her to do so.
Days later the couple decided to make an official complaint to the hospital.
Writing to the hospital, Fay said: “What I have experienced must never happen again to any parent.
“The loss of a child is the most upsetting and world-crumbling thing to ever have to go through and it's something I feel I will never fully get over.
“What has happened to me and my child during his birth is so traumatic and inhumane.
“As his mother I am left scarred for life and tortured by his fall.
“A baby, alive or dead, it should make no difference... how a birth or labour is handled.
“Unfortunately in this case, it has led me to believe he was not valued and was treated without any dignity, respect or compassion.”
The hospital has since apologised to the couple.
Sarah Blanchard-Stow, assistant director of midwifery and nursing at the hospital, said: “Miscarrying a baby is one of the hardest things a woman can experience and our deepest condolences are with Fay and her family.
“Our aim is to always provide one to one care with kindness and dignity and our midwifery team are committed to this.
“We have already been in contact with Fay and have offered to meet with her and her partner.”
Responding to Fay’s complaint Dr Adrian Bull, chief executive of the hospital which is run by NHS East Sussex Healthcare Trust, said: “I would like to assure you that the trust is committed to providing the highest standards of care and treatment to patients, their families, and carers, and I apologise to you and your partner as this has clearly not been your experience.
“I recognise how upsetting this will have been for you and your partner to witness, and offer my heartfelt apologies to you both.”
Fay has since made further complaints about the hospitals communication about her baby’s post-mortem examination and funeral.
She said: “I don't want this to ever happen to anyone else.
“I complained because changes and improvements need to be made.
“Grieving parents should not have to go through something like this.”
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