CARLY Hardwidge told medics seven times she could not feel her baby moving before her daughter was stillborn.
The 33-year-old from Wiltshire also repeatedly warned midwives she was experiencing pain, contractions, water leakage and a blood-stained discharge.
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Despite her cries for help, staff at Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust failed to properly investigate Carly’s concerns or refer her to an obstetrician on multiple occasions.
“I was never listened to or taken seriously by the hospital staff. It has affected my mental health and still massively affects me, my partner, Haydn, and our other children,” she explained.
Having previously had two miscarriages and pre-eclampsia, the mum-of-four should have been graded as high risk which would have put her under more intense care.
She should have also been referred to a senior consultant as early as September 2018 when she reported concerns about fluid loss for a third time.
And Carly should also have been referred to a consultant when she reported a lack of movement for a second time in November.
These serious failings led to her daughter, Seren Browne, being stillborn, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) has found.
“We didn’t lose a baby, we lost a whole life; her first steps, her first words, her first day at school, which would have been last year,” she said.
“Every day there is a constant reminder of Seren and what might have been.
“There are so many what-if questions – what would she look like now, what would she be doing?”
The PHSO’s obstetrics adviser said the likely cause of death was an infection caused by a slow leak of the water surrounding.
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“For years I blamed myself,” the mum said.
“I was the one who carried her. I’m the one who was meant to keep her safe.
“Now I have it on paper that if I had been listened to my daughter would be here today.
“Seren would be playing in the park, eating ice cream and causing chaos with her siblings. Instead, she’s at home in an urn on the shelf.”
Carley spoke out as the PHSO warned that women and babies are being put at risk after a worrying rise in the number of investigations about maternity care.
After investigating and upholding her complaint, PHSO found staff at Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust failed to properly investigate Ms Hardwidge’s concerns or refer her to an obstetrician on multiple occasions.
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She said: “If more people were listened to and taken seriously, this would not keep happening.
“That’s where I get my strength from, despite everything, I fight every day for justice for my daughter.”
Alongside the clinical failings, staff’s attitude and behaviour fell well below professional standards – an issue previously highlighted in national reviews of maternity services.
The Trust’s bereavement care was also below what is expected.
The Ombudsman recommended that the Trust acknowledge its failings, apologise, and set out what it will do to prevent the same mistakes from happening again.
The Trust was also told to pay £1,000 to recognise the impact the failings in bereavement care and complaint handling have had on the family. This amount only relates to those issues.
The failings in antenatal care have been referred by the Trust to NHS Resolution to agree on a compensation award with Carly.
A spokesperson for the Royal United Hospitals, Bath, said: “We are deeply sorry for the tragic loss and emotional distress experienced by the family.
“We apologise for the failings identified and fully accept the recommendations of the Parliamentary Health Service Ombudsman.
“We all strive to provide excellent and safe care for women, birthing people and their babies and when harm happens, we spend time reflecting on and learning from what we could have done differently.
“We have made changes in response to this case, including training in relation to carrying out risk assessments and identifying when to refer to consultants and embedding a communication and escalation tool kit.”
Meanwhile, death during pregnancy and childbirth are at a near 20-year high in Britain, researchers warn.
An average of 13.41 women per 100,000 died during or six months after pregnancy from 2020 to 2022, the latest data shows.
It was up 53 per cent on the 8.79 recorded in the previous three years and the highest since 2003 to 2005, Oxford University experts said.
The times you should call your midwife during pregnancy
Navigating pregnancy can be overwhelming, and knowing when to seek help is crucial for both your health and your baby’s.
Your midwife is a key resource throughout this journey, providing guidance and support.
Here’s a quick guide on when to reach out to your midwife
- . If you experience severe abdominal pain, bleeding, or unusual discharge, contact your midwife immediately.
- If you notice a significant decrease in your baby’s movements, especially after 24 weeks, seek advice from your midwife.
- If you develop a high fever, severe headache, or vision problems, get in touch with your midwife as these could be signs of pre-eclampsia.
- Call your midwife if you experience regular contractions, your waters break, or you have any signs of early labour.
- If you feel anxious, depressed, or overwhelmed, your midwife can provide support or refer you to additional resources.
But remember that any concerns about your or your baby’s health should be discussed with your midwife for guidance and reassurance.
Source: NHS website