Grieving mum seeks action on harrowing death of her healthy baby boy after traumatic 18-hour labour
- Rebecca Spreadborough lost her newborn
- Baby Alby was unable to be resuscitated
- She claims hospital staff ‘missed the signs’
A grief-stricken mother is demanding answers after losing her newborn son following complications during a horror 18-hour labour that she claims staff at a Queensland hospital were ‘not equipped for’.
Tim and Rebecca Spreadborough are now pushing for an independent review after her baby boy Alby died at Emerald Hospital in central Queensland on February 5.
She claims staff ‘missed all of the signs’ during her 18-hour obstructive labour.
After Ms Spreadborough’s water broke at 39 weeks she claims hospital staff told her she had only ‘peed herself’ and to wait until the morning.
The couple arrived at the hospital at 5.30am, with staff initially reassuring the couple the baby was ‘happy’ despite signs pointing to an obstructive labour – when the baby is unable to exit through the birth canal, or pelvis.
Doctors ultimately performed an emergency caesarean and cut Ms Spreadborough’s placenta to get baby Alby out, who was unable to be resuscitated postpartum.
A coroner has since informed the couple the cause of death was obstructed labour.
Ms Spreadborough (pictured) claimed she was not told about the complications during her labour that lead to the death of her newborn Alby
The Queensland couple (pictured) are now calling for a statewide policy to manage obstructed labours and dedicated bereavement teams for grieving parents
The incident is being investigated by the Health Ombudsman following an internal review by the Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service.
A final report on May 25 stated: ‘The antenatal, intrapartum, and neonatal care for RS her baby mostly demonstrates reasonable clinical care and decision-making in alignment with clinical practice standards.’
However, Ms Spreadborough has since taken issue with the findings and says the report recognised many signs of an obstructed labour.
She claims complications were not adequately communicated to her during the 18-hour labour.
‘I developed Bandl’s Ring, my contractions were so strong they were pushing the baby down, I had meconium, my dilation stalled, I had abnormal cardiotocograph (CTG) scans, cervical oedema,’ Ms Spreadborough told the Courier Mail.
‘It’s like they failed to see all of the signs.’
The grieving mother claims staff only told her she was experiencing meconium and that her baby was in distress when she asked why a CTG monitor – which tracks the baby’s heartbeat – was placed on her.
Ms Spreadborough says she was reassured by hospital staff that she could continue to give birth vaginally despite knowing there had been no foetal descent.
‘After he was out all I could hear after that was 3,2,1 over and over,’ she recalled.
‘We were never able to hear him cry.’
The Queensland couple are now calling for a statewide policy to manage obstructed labours as well as dedicated bereavement teams for grieving parents.
Staff at the Emerald Hospital (pictured) in central Queensland reassured her the baby was ‘happy’ despite scans and examinations pointing to an obstructed labour
A review by clinical experts both internal and external to the Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service recommended the Emerald maternity team undertake regular emergency drills for neonatal resuscitation and regular clinical audits.
Other recommendations include an assessment of compliance against the CTG interpretation, documentation, escalation, and education policy, specifically that all maternity care clinicians undertake regular annual CTG updates.
The review also recommended that a foetal pillow is used as first-line management in cases where foetal head elevation is required.
Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said it was a ‘heartbreaking’ story.
‘I know that the hospital is working with the family,’ she said. ‘I also know that there’s an independent investigation underway including with the health ombudsman.
‘We need to let that investigation take place, but I want to be very clear that I expect the very highest standards for women and for women’s health.’
