Grieving mother’s nine-month-old son died after being brain damaged as inquest hears ‘hospital staff found out he was in dangerous breech position five minutes after her waters broke’
- Sophie Payne, 22, lost her son Henry in May last year because of brain damage
- He developed cerebral palsy after a traumatic breech birth in 2017
- There was a 23 minute delay in his head leaving the womb after his bottom
- During that time he was starved of oxygen and he later had to be resuscitated
- Hospital offered its sympathies to the family and said the death was unavoidable
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A nine-month-old boy died because of brain damage suffered when he was born in the breech position.
Henry Payne-Smith died in May 2018 after living for months with cerebral palsy triggered by his traumatic birth.
His mother Sophie, 22, has since heard in an inquest that the hospital where Henry was born wasn’t equipped to deal with breech births.
She is now warning other parents-to-be about the dangers of their babies being wrongly position and telling them to ‘push doctors’ for the right care.
Henry Payne-Smith, born in Clacton-on-Sea in Essex, died when he was just nine months old because of brain damage which had been caused when he was born in the breech position
‘The nine months I had with him were the happiest of my life despite all the hurdles and challenges Henry faced,’ said Miss Payne, from Hythe, Kent.
Around three per cent of babies are in the breech position – when they are in position to be born bottom-first – but it is not necessarily dangerous.
However, it carries a higher risk of the baby getting stuck in the birth canal or their oxygen supply being cut off because of pressure on the umbilical cord.
Henry’s labour took so long he was left with severe brain damage.
His head didn’t leave his mother’s womb until more than 20 minutes after his rear end did.
Midwives at Clacton Maternity Unit – Miss Payne was living in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, at the time – hadn’t realised Henry was in the breech position until five minutes after Miss Payne’s waters broke, an inquest heard.
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A coroner at Chelmsford Coroner’s Court heard the unit was not equipped to cope with breech births and ultrasound scans had been kept separate from Miss Payne’s medical records.
Henry’s bottom came out first at 5.12am and the rest of his body was not delivered until 5.35am, the court was told.
An ambulance was called to transfer him to Colchester General Hospital, which was nearly 40 minutes away from the midwifery led unit.
WHAT IS A BREECH BIRTH?
A breech birth is when a baby is naturally born bottom-first or feet-first instead of head-first.
It affects around three to four per cent of pregnancies in the UK.
Babies are often in different positions throughout the course of a pregnancy but will usually end up head-down by the time they are due.
Birthing the baby backwards is not necessarily dangerous and mothers may be able to do so in certain circumstances.
However, it carries a higher risk of the baby getting stuck in the birth canal or their oxygen supply being cut off because of pressure on the umbilical cord.
Medics might want to try and rotate the baby – an external cephalic version – which can be done by hand.
Or, if a vaginal birth isn’t safe, the mother may be advised to have a caesarean section.
Options are usually discussed if the baby is still in the breech position by the 36th week of pregnancy.
Source: NHS
He needed to be resuscitated after he was born and, in the 23 minutes between his bottom and head being birthed, his brain was starved of oxygen.
Henry would spend three weeks in hospital before his mother was allowed to take him home in August 2017.
As a result of the traumatic birth, Henry was left with cerebral palsy – a condition which causes muscle weakness, learning disabilities, and problems with vision and swallowing.
After living longer than doctors had expected, he died as a result of brain damage last year.
Miss Payne said: ‘I would not wish the pain I continue to live with over Henry’s death on anyone.
‘The first time I got to see Henry properly was in hospital when all I could see at the end of the bed were wires.
‘I just broke down in tears. I didn’t want to see him like that.
‘The doctors thought he would not survive and that we should say our goodbyes but Henry managed to defy the doctors.
‘He was such an adorable and brave little boy who was a real fighter to the end.’
Miss Payne is now speaking out to warn parents about the dangers of breech births.
She added: ‘While I know nothing will bring him back I was determined to get answers for my little boy so hopefully other families do not have to experience the pain that I have.
Sophie Payne, 22, said the nine months she had with her son were the ‘happiest of my life’ despite his devastating health problems. A coroner heard the maternity unit where he was born was not equipped to deal with breech births and midwives were not all aware
‘By speaking out I just hope that parents are fully aware of the potential dangers of their baby being in the breech position and, if they feel it is needed, ask questions and push doctors for answers so they can decide what is best for them.’
Angela Tillet, medical director at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Clacton Hospital, said: ‘We wish to offer our deepest sympathies and condolences to Henry’s family at this difficult time.
‘The coroner heard evidence from the midwives involved and also from an independent medical expert, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Malcolm Griffiths, who said that the circumstances were tragic but unavoidable.
‘As with any tragic event where a life is lost we will review the coroner’s findings in detail and always strive to improve the quality of the care we provide to our patients and their families.’
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