Baby Died After Doctors Mistook Mother's Internal Bleeding for 'Trapped Wind', Inquest Told
An inquest heard that doctors told a pregnant mother her life-threatening internal bleeding was likely 'trapped wind', leading to a tragic outcome for her baby.
A baby died after doctors at Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, reportedly dismissed a pregnant mother's severe abdominal pain as 'trapped wind,' an inquest has been told. Kimberley Newark, then 31 and 34 weeks pregnant, sought medical attention on September 14, 2024, for excruciating pain.
Maternity staff initially attributed her symptoms to trapped wind and provided painkillers and colic medication. Despite the severity of her pain, she was transferred to a ward for observation. However, her condition worsened, with stabbing pains that left her in agony. When medical staff noted a critical drop in the baby's heart rate, Newark was rushed to theatre for an emergency Cesarean section.
During the procedure, doctors discovered a rupture of a major blood vessel, the splenic artery, which had caused Newark to lose approximately 11 liters of blood. Her newborn daughter, Olivia, was delivered but was unresponsive and not breathing. Olivia was resuscitated and transferred to a specialist unit, where she was diagnosed with severe hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy, a condition caused by insufficient oxygen and blood flow to the brain around the time of birth.
Newark was placed in a coma in intensive care and later transferred with Olivia to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton. Tests confirmed Olivia had no brain activity, and the decision was made to remove ventilator support. Olivia died on September 19, 2024, five days after her birth. Newark remained hospitalized for a month, undergoing a blood transfusion.
The inquest heard that the couple had repeatedly expressed concerns about Newark's deteriorating health prior to her hospital admission. She had experienced anemia, nausea, exhaustion, and severe stomach and back pain. After fainting at home, her partner drove her to the hospital. Upon arrival, she reported extreme discomfort, vomiting, diarrhea, and persistent severe abdominal pain.
An examination in the A&E department revealed low blood pressure, and she was seen by a consultant who concluded her pain was most likely due to 'trapped wind,' prescribing antispasmodic medication and paracetamol. She was admitted to the antenatal/postnatal unit, and her partner was sent home. Less than an hour later, Newark's condition deteriorated significantly, and she experienced unbearable pain before fainting. Staff found the baby's heartbeat had dropped to 40 beats per minute, prompting the emergency C-section.
Dr. Dominic Yu, an A&E consultant who examined Newark upon her arrival, stated that there were no indicators of internal bleeding or a splenic artery rupture at that time. In a statement read at the inquest, Newark described Olivia as a beloved child they had eagerly anticipated. The couple expressed their ongoing grief, stating that their pain was exacerbated by the knowledge that other families had also experienced infant loss.
The University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust's maternity services are currently under investigation following a review commissioned by former health secretary Wes Streeting. This comprehensive review, led by Donna Ockenden, will examine over 1,000 cases from 2018 onwards, prompted by concerns raised by bereaved families regarding infant deaths between 2021 and 2023.
A spokesperson for the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust stated that two reviews of Olivia's care had been conducted. The chief nurse at the trust, Dr. Maggie Davies, offered apologies for Olivia's loss and the trauma experienced by the family. The inquest is ongoing.