A mother today described how she was forced to give birth to her stillborn daughter after a request to induce labor was rejected – because a maternity ward was full.
Amy Walters, 24, from Walsall, was taken to hospital after she started complaining of reduced movements during her pregnancy, which was already classed as ‘high risk’.
She said she requested her induced labor be brought forward, but this was turned down because there was no capacity and other patients were already booked.
Mrs Walters, a coordinator on the expedition, was sent home but two days later she returned to Walsall Manor Hospital, again concerned about reduced freedom of movement.
Staff could find no heartbeat and Mrs Walters was told baby Heidi had died. She was induced and delivered to Heidi the next day, on January 8 last year.
Amy Walters and her partner, Jordon Quilt, hold baby Heidi’s casket during her funeral
Ms Walters, seen with Mr Quilt, was taken to hospital after she started complaining of reduced movements during her pregnancy, which was already classed as ‘high risk’.
An investigation found the hospital ‘missed opportunities’ to review the mother’s care and failed to take action on concerns about her baby’s growth.
Mrs Walters said: ‘It’s almost impossible to find words to describe what the last few months have been like.
‘When we found out we were expecting, we were overjoyed and couldn’t wait to welcome Heidi into our lives.
‘Initially I felt reassured that I was under the care of doctors and thought that this would give me the best possible care.
‘After 35 weeks, however, I started to worry because Heidi was presented as small.
‘However, every time I tried to express my concerns during appointments or on a hospital visit, I felt like I wasn’t really being listened to.
‘After New Year’s I knew deep down that something was wrong.
‘I wanted to stay in hospital because I thought it would be the best place for me and Heidi could be monitored, but I was sent home.
‘Those few days after I was sent home before returning to hospital were terrible. Nothing prepared us for the news that Heidi had passed away.
‘We were devastated. Having to deliver Heidi only added to the misery we were going through.’
Ms Walters’ pregnancy was initially assessed as ‘high risk’ after appointments revealed the baby’s growth was below average.
She had her last growth ultrasound on November 29, 2022, at 35 weeks. Ms Walters attended follow-up appointments at the antenatal clinic on December 7 and 12.
At the second appointment, Heidi’s growth was not measured and Ms Walters said she was told everything was fine.
She was booked to see a midwife on January 4, but was admitted to Walsall Manor on Christmas Day, concerned about her baby’s reduced movements.
She was discharged the next day and no issues were raised at another midwife appointment and she was booked for an induction on January 13th.
But the next day Mrs Walters, who was 40 weeks pregnant, went to the maternity ward at Walsall Manor concerned about bleeding.
Staff were unable to find a heartbeat and Mrs Walters was told Heidi had died. Pictured is a photo of her hands
She asked for the delivery to be brought forward, but this was rejected and after tests she was sent home.
However, she remained concerned about her baby’s reduced mobility and returned to the hospital just before 11am on January 7.
It was then that Ms Walters and her partner Jordon Quilt, 25, were told Heidi had died in utero.
The mother has now spoken for the first time about her ordeal and called for lessons to be learned from their tragic loss.
She added, “While we will forever cherish those few precious moments we got to spend with Heidi, it’s hard not to think about what she must have been like in our home.
‘We had so many plans for the future. All we wanted was to bring Heidi home and start our family life together.
‘The last few months have been a real mix of emotions and we are so grateful for the help and support we have had.
‘All we can do now is share what happened to us to make other parents aware.
‘I would like to encourage new mothers in particular to always listen to those gut feelings and always speak out if you feel something is not right.
‘By speaking out we hope that lessons can be learned. We wouldn’t wish what we are experiencing on anyone.
‘Support is available and no one should have to face the ordeal of losing their baby alone.’
A report from the trust found there were several missed opportunities to assess Mrs Walters’ care and assess Heidi’s growth, including on December 7 and 12 and on Christmas Day.
Her initial care management did not meet national or regional care guidelines, the report said.
It added that the care issues identified were “likely to have made a difference to the outcome for the baby.”
In a letter to Mrs Walters, the trust said that ‘there were things that could have been done differently’ and that it was ‘very sorry’.
The letter stated that she should have had another growth ultrasound scan at 39 weeks.
Because Heidi was very small when she was born, it is possible that a growth scan “would have picked this up and we would have acted to induce labor before Heidi died,” the foundation said.
Mrs Walters visited the maternity ward at Walsall Manor Hospital
Following Heidi’s death, Mrs Walters’ couple instructed Irwin Mitchell’s medical negligence lawyers to investigate Amy’s care under Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust.
Kayleigh Hunter, specialist medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said: “This is a truly tragic case in which worrying issues in the care Amy and Heidi received have been identified by the Trust itself.
“Amy and Jordon are devastated by the events that unfolded and Heidi’s death. What should have been such a happy time for the family ended in sadness.
“While nothing can ever make up for their loss, we are determined to give Amy and Jordon all the answers they deserve.
‘Unfortunately, through our work, we still see too many families trying to pick up the pieces due to issues with maternal safety.
‘We urge the Trust to learn lessons from the issues identified to prevent other families having to endure the pain that Amy and Jordon are going through.
‘Patient safety must be the fundamental priority and we continue to campaign for improvements in maternity care.’