Mother, 24, tells how she was forced to give birth to her stillborn daughter after her request for induced labour was turned down because maternity ward was full

A mother today described how she was forced to give birth to her stillborn baby daughter after a request to induce labour was turned down – because a maternity ward was full.

Amy Walters, 24, from Walsall, was taken to hospital after she began complaining about reduced movements during her pregnancy which was already classed as ‘high risk.’

She said she asked for her induced labour to be brought forward but this was rejected as there was no capacity and other patients had already been booked in.

Ms Walters, a dispatch co-ordinator, was sent home but two days later she returned to Walsall Manor Hospital again concerned about reduced movement.

Staff couldn’t find a heartbeat and Ms Walters was told baby Heidi had died. She was induced and delivered Heidi the following day on January 8 last year.

An investigation has since found the hospital trust ‘missed opportunities’ to review the mother’s care and failed to act upon concerns about her baby’s growth.

Ms Walters said: ‘It’s almost impossible to find the words to describe what they last few months have been like.

‘When we found out we were expecting we were overjoyed and couldn’t wait to welcome Heidi into our lives.

‘Initially I felt reassured that I was under the care of doctors and thought that would mean I would receive the best care possible.

‘However, after 35 weeks I started to be concerned as Heidi was plotted as being small.

‘However, each time I tried to raise concerns in appointments, or visited hospital, it felt like I wasn’t really being listened to.

‘After New Year I knew deep down something wasn’t right.

‘I wanted to stay in hospital as I thought that would be the best place for me and Heidi could be monitored, but I was sent home.

‘Those couple of days after being sent home before returning to hospital were awful. Nothing prepared us for the news Heidi had died.

‘We were shattered. Having to then deliver Heidi just added to the distress we were going through.’

Ms Walters’ pregnancy was initially assessed as ‘high risk’ after appointments showed the baby’s growth was found to be below average.

She had her final growth scan on November 29, 2022, at 35 weeks. Ms Walters attended follow up ante-natal clinic appointments on December 7 and 12.

At the second appointment, Heidi’s growth wasn’t measured and Ms Walters said she was told everything was fine.

She was booked to see a midwife on January 4 but she was admitted to Walsall Manor on Christmas Day concerned about reduced movements of her baby.

She was discharged the following day and no issues were raised during another midwifery appointment and she was booked for an induction on January 13.

But the following day Ms Walters, who was 40 weeks pregnant, attended the maternity unit at Walsall Manor concerned about bleeding.

She asked for an induction of labour to be brought forward, which was turned down and she was sent home following tests.

However, she continued to be concerned about her baby’s reduced movement and attended hospital again just before 11am on January 7.

It was that point Ms Walters and her partner Jordon Quilt, 25, were told Heidi had died in the womb.

The mother has now spoken for the first time about her ordeal and is calling for lessons to be learned from their tragic loss.

She added: ‘While we’ll forever cherish those few precious moments we got to spend with Heidi, it’s difficult not to think of how she should be at home with us.

‘We had so many plans for the future. All we wanted was to bring Heidi home and start our family life together.

‘The last few months have been a real mix of emotions and we’re so thankful for the help and support we’ve had.

‘All we can do now is share what happened to us to make other parents aware.

‘I want to encourage any first time mums in particular to always listen to those gut feelings and always speak out if you feel that something isn’t right.

‘By speaking out we just hope lessons can be learned. We wouldn’t wish what we’re going through on anyone.

‘Support is available and nobody should have to go through the ordeal of losing their baby alone.’

A report by the trust found several missed opportunities to review Ms Walters’ care and assess Heidi’s growth, including on December 7 and 12 as well as Christmas Day.

Her initial care management didn’t meet national or regional care guidelines, the report said.

It added the care issues identified ‘were likely to have made a difference to the outcome for the baby.’

In a letter to Ms Walters, the trust said ‘there were things that could have been done differently’ for which it was ‘extremely sorry.’

In the letter, it added that she should have had another growth scan at 39 weeks.

As Heidi was very small when she was delivered, it’s possible that a growth scan ‘would have picked this up and we would have acted by way of inducing labour before Heidi passed away,’ the trust said.

Following Heidi’s death Ms Walters’ couple instructed medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate Amy’s care under Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust.

Kayleigh Hunter, specialist medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said: ‘This is a truly tragic case in which worrying issues in the care Amy and Heidi received have been identified by the Trust itself.

‘Amy and Jordon are devastated by the events that unfolded and Heidi’s death. What should have been such a happy time for the family ended in heartache.

‘While nothing can ever make up for their loss we’re determined to provide Amy and Jordon with all of the answers they deserve.

‘Sadly through our work we continue to see too many families who have been left trying to pick up the pieces as a result of issues in maternity safety.

‘We urge the Trust to learn lessons from the issues identified to prevent other families having to endure the pain Amy and Jordon are going through.

‘Patient safety should be the fundamental priority and we continue to campaign for improvements in maternity care.’