Schofields, Australia – 31st July, 2018: A young mother has told of her devastation at losing her "perfect" baby after a major Sydney hospital cancelled her planned C-section.
Paige Scott is preparing to take legal action against Westmead Hospital over the loss of her son Hudson, whose twin sister Tahlee survived the eventual birth.
The Schofields woman had been looking forward to motherhood after learning she was expecting fraternal twins.
"I felt very blessed and grateful," she told 9NEWS.
"We had one of each (gender) so it was perfect."
Because Paige has Type 1 diabetes, an auto-immune condition diagnosed when she was eight years old, her pregnancy was monitored closely and she was told her babies would be delivered before full-term to avoid any risks.
At 33 weeks, an ultrasound revealed both twins were healthy but concern was raised over the functioning of the boy's placenta.
Paige was advised to have follow-up scans a week later. When they showed the same results, she said doctors agreed the best course of action was to admit her to Westmead Hospital so her unborn children's progress could be monitored more closely.
In the first week of her admission, Paige said she felt well and was reassured the babies were healthy.
However, during the second week, she was told she would need to have a Caesarean the following morning because of abnormal readings for Hudson.
It was then she learned scans conducted during her first week in hospital showed her son wasn't coping well and it would be best to deliver him soon.
The next morning, Paige said she was prepared for the planned C-section and remained in the waiting room for several hours, as an emergency patient had arrived.
At midday, she was seen by a doctor who advised her the operation would be delayed.
Throughout the rest of the day, the babies were monitored - the twin girl showing signs of activity while Hudson was interpreted as having a sleep trace, she said.
Paige said the medical staff reassured her that he was just sleeping and encouraged her to drink cold water, have a hot shower and walk around to try and wake him up.
"They kept telling me that he was just sleeping - and I kept saying no, he's not moving... I can't feel him," she said.
When she woke up the next morning, she didn't feel well and felt something wasn't right.
The monitor was placed on her stomach and no heartbeat could be found for Hudson.
She'd lost her son.
She gave birth to his twin sister by emergency C-section.
"Hudson came out looking like a perfect baby," she said.
Paige has struggled with anxiety, difficulty sleeping, guilt and anger since Hudson's death in April 2016.
"Having to take my children to a cemetery: they don't really understand it yet but when they do, it's like, this is it - this is where your brother is," she said.
Clare Eves is national special counsel for medical negligence at Shine Lawyers, which is investigating a case against Westmead Hospital.
"If the Caesarean had proceeded as planned, there's absolutely no reason to doubt that both babies would have been born perfectly healthy," she told 9NEWS.
Robynne Cooke, executive director operations at Western Sydney Local Health District, said the district is willing to support the family but can't comment on details for privacy reasons.
In a written statement, she told 9NEWS: "We extend our condolences to the family and recognise that the death of any family member is a great sorrow.
"Investigations are always undertaken in these circumstances. The family was made aware of the medical findings to ensure transparency and open disclosure.".
Source: https://www.9news.com.au/national/2018/07/30/18/23/westmead-hospital-mother-devastated-baby-death-c-section-birth