Mother feels baby son could have been saved
Anton McNulty
The mother of a baby boy who died during emergency surgery at birth told the inquest into his death that she did not feel she received sufficient care in Mayo General Hospital after she was admitted following a traffic accident.
Baby Andrew Niland died on October 25, 2009, just hours after his mother, Lorna Niland of Aglragh, Ballyhaunis was admitted to Mayo General Hospital (MGH) following a minor traffic accident. At the time of the accident, the 37-year-old was eight months pregnant with her eighth child.
After undergoing emergency delivery by caesarean section four hours after her admittance to the hospital, baby Andrew was delivered with the cord wrapped three times around his neck. The family of baby Andrew believe that if the baby had been delivered by caesarean section several hours earlier it would have prevented the stillbirth of the baby.
In her evidence, Mrs Niland said that she was travelling along a narrow road when she collided with another vehicle at a blind bend at Logboy, Ballyhaunis. When she arrived at the hospital her stomach started to get sore and she had a couple of contractions.
Following the death of her baby, she explained how she was in denial that her child was dead and he looked like a ‘perfect baby’ who was ‘sleeping’. She told the inquest that she still feels guilty about her baby’s death saying that she wishes she had stayed in bed that morning. She believed that if she had received treatment earlier her baby would have survived and did not want any other mother to go through what she did.
The inquest heard that Mrs Niland was admitted to the hospital at approximately 1pm and was reviewed by Dr Valentine Ugwu, who worked as a registrar in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Mayo General Hospital. After examination he felt that she may have suffered a ruptured placenta and may need an urgent delivery by caesarean section.
He said he called Dr Kamal Elmani, acting Locum Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist who after examining her decided to observe her for another 30 minutes. At 4.44pm, when the midwife failed to pick up a heart beat from the baby, Dr Ugwu recommended that Mrs Niland undergo a caesarean section. At 5.08pm, the baby was delivered but the cord was wrapped three time around the baby’s neck.
The inquest continues today and is expected to last for two days.
