WARNING: Distressing content
Queensland woman Rebecca Spreadborough had a dream pregnancy.
After conceiving baby Alby with husband Tim through assisted fertility, there were “no problems” throughout the 39 weeks.
For more Health & Wellbeing related news and videos check out Health & Wellbeing >>
But on February 5, the day before Alby was born, her experience became traumatic.
Rebecca’s waters broke that night but she claims a midwife at Emerald Hospital told her she “could have just peed” herself.
“I actually laboured overnight in the lounge room,” she told 7NEWS.
Rebecca and Tim went to the hospital early the next day when it was confirmed she was in labour.
The labour was “progressing quite well and quite quickly”, but things took a turn for the worst.
“The labour stalled and I guess didn’t progress as expected, by both the midwife and doctor,” Rebecca said.
“There were mounting risk factors over the course of the labour.
“I had meconium (stained) liquor, which is a sign of fetal distress. Baby Alby had caput (head swelling). There was no descent in the fetal head, as well as that stall in cervical dilation.
“It was sort of building that picture of, I suppose, obstructed labour.”
‘No cause for alarm’
The couple claims they were “constantly reassured that our baby was happy” and there was “no cause for alarm”, with some of the issues related to the birth not communicated to them until later.
But in the afternoon, with Rebecca in “an excruciating amount of pain”, she decided to have a cesarean section despite her wishes for a vaginal birth.
“I elected for a cesarean,” she said.
“The doctor felt at that stage I could keep going vaginally. So she encouraged me to keep going with a vaginal birth.
“Thankfully, I had enough courage and confidence, I suppose, to advocate for myself in that moment to firmly say, ‘No, I need a cesarean section’.”
“I would have advocated for it earlier had the clinical picture been communicated to us.”
Unimaginable grief
Baby Alby did not survive. The cause of death was Bandl’s ring, which is the constriction of a baby in the uterus.
The grief is “difficult to put into words,” Rebecca said.
But what has “complicated our grief” is the hospital’s response, Tim said.
They claim there was no communication from the hospital for 11 weeks until they were sent an internal report by the Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service saying that lessons had been learned from Rebecca’s treatment.
“We’re living every parent’s worst nightmare,” Rebecca said.
“But if we’re completely honest, it’s been made 1000 times worse with how we’ve been treated by the hospital.
“The complete lack of empathy, respect and compassion … We feel like the enormity of what has happened has been played down by Central Queensland and Hospital and Health Service.
“We haven’t been supported throughout this process at all.”
The couple is calling for an independent and external review into the hospital’s handling of Rebecca’s birthing experience.
Their local state MP, Lachlan Millar, said the couple had a “right to know exactly what happened”.
“Rebecca and Tim have major concerns with how lightly the recommendations are listed in the report surrounding such a traumatic experience,” he said.
“For them, this not only highlights the lack of acknowledgement of the severity of this case but also the lack of respect for them and their precious baby boy.”
Hospital’s response
Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service chief executive Emma McCahon said “external” experts had looked at the case as part of the hospital’s own review.
“My sincere sympathy goes to the family during this extremely difficult time,” she said.
“We do not publicly discuss details of individuals’ health care, but we are liaising with the family to address their concerns.
“A comprehensive review has been done by clinical experts both internal and external to CQHHS.
“The matter has been referred to the coroner.”