Bereaved parents inspire medics maternity training
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Midwives and obstetricians in the north-east of England and North Cumbria are being trained to spot potentially life-threatening complications when pregnant women say their baby is moving less.
The scheme will use focus on the experience of a woman from Forest Hall, North Tyneside, whose baby was stillborn after her concerns were repeatedly dismissed.
Amie Evans, who lost her daughter at 40 weeks and four days, said if Seren's story saves a baby's life "she's made a difference".
An NHS investigation into the hospital trust, which cannot be named while legal settlements are finalised, found Amie received Grade D care, a classification reserved for the most serious forms of medical negligence.
Amie, 30, had what she described as a textbook pregnancy but, as her due date approached, she noticed her baby's movements had slowed down.
As her concerns grew she and her partner, Lewis Landells "were back and forward to the hospital", she said, and then she went into early labour.
"I rang the hospital twice over the space of 48 hours and they gave me early labour advice, which is take a hot bath and have paracetamol, which I did," she said.
"Then I rang back again. So that was the second time and they just told me to stay home."
Lewis, also 30, decided they needed to return to hospital.
"I was trying to feel for a kick and I couldn't feel anything," he said.
When they were finally seen, a scan confirmed their baby had died.
Over 12 months from April, thousands of midwives and obstetricians across the region will be given specialist training focused on lessons learned from Seren's story.
Currently, care for women reporting reduced fetal movement varies between hospital trusts.
The new training aims to standardise that across the region so, when mothers repeatedly raise concerns, the offer of scans, induction of labour, and delivery by caesarean section is consistent across all trusts.
The scheme is being developed and delivered by Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust, which is not the trust responsible for Amie's and Seren's care.
Director of midwifery Jenna Wall said she hoped it would make staff "more confident in understanding the importance of listening to women" and the care available.
"Women often will have an intuition that something is not right," she said.
Using Seren's story as part of the training would leave a lasting impression on healthcare workers, she said.
"There's nothing more powerful than hearing from a bereaved family."
BBC/Kay DavidsonUpdated guidance from baby and pregnancy charity Tommy's says pregnant women should go to their local maternity unit immediately if:
- Their baby is moving less
- Movements feel weaker
- Movements have stopped
"I think if Seren's story just saves one baby's life, she's made a difference," Amie said.
"If it makes staff more alert, and if they are not clear on policies, if it makes them aware of going higher to speak to someone for advice, then it's done something.
"I just hope her legacy will live on forever."