I begged for a caesarean... then nearly died in labour
FREDA Marsh contracted sepsis after a 64-hour labour ordeal in June, during which she was repeatedly refused a caesarean.
The 22-year-old first-time mother knew she was going to have a big baby and at her 30-week clinic asked her midwife for a caesarean.
Miss Marsh, from Stevenage, said: ‘They said the hospital policy is that they would prefer us to have a normal birth. I was crying.’
The proof-reader, who stands 5ft 3ins, added: ‘I was terrified for my son’s life. I remember thinking “he’s just too big for me”.’ After close to three days in labour at Stevenage’s Lister Hospital, midwives realised her baby was coming feet first, and an emergency caesarean was performed.
Sydney was born weighing 8lbs 15oz and taken into intensive care while his mother battled to survive.
Miss Marsh said: ‘If they had just given me that elective c-section when I asked I wouldn’t have nearly died, and my son wouldn’t have gone to intensive care. I’m pretty disgusted by these lectures. I can’t believe it, it’s such a shock.’
Rhiannon Davies, 43, lost her daughter Kate in March 2009 after being encouraged to have a natural birth. Mrs Davies said: ‘There were so many things that were concerning during labour. I was saying, “just pull it out”, and they were saying, “we don’t do that, we don’t intervene”.’
After a 31-hour labour in Ludlow Hospital, Shropshire, Kate was born, but she died six hours later. A coroner’s hearing found that Kate could have survived had she been born at a hospital staffed by obstetricians rather than a centre with midwives only.