The Incident
Our client, a 29-year-old woman expecting her third child, attended Watford General Hospital in labour. She was considered high-risk due to a history of one lower segment caesarean section (LSCS) and one vaginal delivery. On arrival at the hospital, she was examined, found to be 4cm dilated, and transferred to the delivery suite, where a cardiotocograph (CTG) was commenced to monitor her baby’s heart rate.
Labor progressed quickly, and within 45 minutes, contractions increased in frequency and strength. After requesting an epidural, it was sited by the anaesthetist about an hour later. Initially, the CTG recording was normal but began showing intermittent loss of contact approximately three hours after her arrival. A vaginal examination by a midwife confirmed she was 9cm dilated, and 20 minutes later, a registrar confirmed full dilation and ruptured her membranes, which revealed clear amniotic fluid.
Twenty minutes later, the CTG showed decelerations, with the baby’s heart rate dropping to 80 beats per minute (BPM) during contractions before recovering. Given the concern, a decision was made to transfer our client to the operating theatre for an instrumental delivery. In the theatre, the CTG recorded a prolonged bradycardia (a drop in the baby’s heart rate) lasting seven minutes. A consultant determined that the baby was in a malposition, making vaginal delivery difficult. The decision was made to insert a foetal pillow to aid delivery and proceed with an emergency category one caesarean section.
After the foetal pillow was inserted, the consultant stepped away to prepare for the procedure. However, when the consultant returned, the pillow had been expelled, and the baby’s head had descended further into the birth canal. Despite concerns over the CTG, the consultant encouraged our client to push while using gentle traction with forceps.
During the contraction, the baby’s head descended suddenly. This unexpected movement caused the consultant, who was still holding the forceps, to lose balance and fall backward. Unfortunately, the forceps caused the baby to sustain a fractured skull, requiring transfer to the neonatal unit. The client herself suffered a 3c obstetric anal sphincter (third-degree) tear, which required immediate suturing.
The Impact on Our Client
The negligence had devastating consequences for our client. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, her husband could not remain with her, leaving her alone in immense pain and deeply worried about her newborn. She experienced bladder control issues, including incontinence, for weeks after delivery and continues to suffer from occasional bladder incontinence, limiting her ability to hold a full bladder for more than 20 minutes.
The psychological trauma was equally severe. She was advised that her baby might develop cerebral palsy and pushed for continued hospital monitoring for over two years. This uncertainty led her to lose confidence in her ability to monitor her child’s development, becoming hypervigilant and overprotective. She struggled to allow others to care for her baby and was excessively emotional, responding with distress to even minor incidents.
The strain of her trauma impacted her family life. Her overprotectiveness created tension with her husband, who felt unable to bond with their daughter. The experience left her unable to drive past the hospital and caused frequent nightmares, anxiety, and irritability for 18 months. Ultimately, she decided not to have more children, fearing a repeat of the trauma she endured.
The Case
Following the incident, our client reached out to Patient Claim Line. Her case was handled by Solicitor Priya Singh, who worked tirelessly to secure justice for our client and her child. Liability for the incident was established through thorough work by Priya and her team.
The Outcome
As a result of Priya Singh’s efforts, a settlement of £20,000 was secured for our client. This compensation helps address the physical and emotional injuries caused by the negligence, ensuring our client and her family can move forward with the support they need.