Pregnant mum told healthy baby had died

An expectant Walsh Island mother says she was told by hospital staff in Portlaoise that her baby had died only to learn two days later there was nothing wrong.

Dublin native Aimee Nolan (26), who lives with her husband Vinny and three-year-old son Jack in Walsh Island, attended at the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise, on Monday after her GP expressed concerns about her unborn child.

“The GP recommended I go in because she couldn’t find a heartbeat on the machine,” Aimee explained. She attended at the Maternity Unit in Portlaoise where, after a some initial checks, she underwent a scan.

Following the scan, Aimee, who is 14 weeks pregnant, recalled they “said that unfortunately the baby has no heartbeat and that it’s dead.”

She was also informed that the child hadn’t developed at all in five weeks.
Aimee was then told she had three options, to allow the baby pass naturally, undergo a DNC procedure or take a tablet which would have a similar effect. She was asked to return in a week’s time.

When she returned home, Aimee told her husband she wouldn’t feel comfortable walking around knowing what she knew for a week.
Her husband Vinny called the hospital and they agreed to take Aimee in on Wednesday.

“We just thought that they were going to discuss the DNC and the tablet form,” she said. At the early pregnancy unit in Portlaiose the head nurse was really nice and sympathetic, she explained.

While there, Aimee was given another scan. This time they found “there was nothing wrong with the baby,” she said. She recalled staff at the hospital, “just looked at each other in shock.”

While the outcome was good, Aimee is still very uneasy and nervous after her ordeal. “I found it so difficult, we were grieving for this baby for two days and then to be told it’s still there,” she said, adding, “I’m still trying to let it all sink in.” She said her husband is alright now but, “he was angry about the way I was put through it.”

Aimee is due for a checkup at the hospital today (Friday). However, she said: “I reckon I will go to my GP and get all my files sent over to Mullingar when I can.”

The HSE acknowledged the distress caused to Aimee and her family. In a statement on Thursday evening, the HSE said: “The HSE does not comment on individual patient’s care. However, the HSE can confirm that it is aware of the circumstances of this case and the matter is being fully reviewed.”

“A Consultant Obstetrician met with the family yesterday(Wednesday) and apologised. The management of the Maternity Services at MRHP wish to apologise for any distress caused to the woman concerned and her family.”  

“The Midland Regional Hospital at Portlaoise has worked with the National Clinical Programme for Obstetrics and Gynaecology and implemented the guidelines in relation Early regnancy Loss at our Maternity Unit.

The Maternity Unit in the hospital have in place measures to ensure that the decision to use drugs or surgical intervention in women who have presented with potential miscarriage must be approved by a Consultant Obstetrician following a repeat scan which normally takes place a number of days after the initial scan of concern.”