Huncoat mum's home birth ordeal

8:00am Friday 1st August 2008

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A MUM gave birth to her daughter at home after being sent away from hospital twice by midwives who said she was “hours away” from labour.

And Kyra Moore has criticised Burnley General Hospital’s maternity ward for the conflicting and confusing information she was given.

Kyra, 20, was two weeks away from her due date – yesterday – when she began feeling the familiar pain of contractions on the evening of July 14.

Kyra and her husband Darren, 24, already have a two-year-old son, Tannen, so when contractions started they went straight to Burnley General Hospital.

But the couple, from Bluebell Way in Huncoat, was sent home after Kyra was examined by a midwife who said she was not in labour.

At 4.30am the next morning her waters broke and once again she and Darren rushed to hospital, only to be told the same information before being sent home until the following day.

Kyra, who runs an event decoration business with Darren, said: “I was shocked when they told me to go home again, because I was pretty convinced I was in labour, but they kept saying I wasn’t dilated.

“I was in agony, and I couldn’t go back to sleep when I got home at around 6.30am because the contractions were too painful.

“I knew from having Tannen that you shouldn’t push straight away so I held off, but it got to the point when I couldn’t any longer, and Darren phoned for an ambulance.

“He was still speaking to the operator when I began pushing.”

Autumn Louise was born at 8.12am, weighing 7lbs 12oz, after just three pushes.

Kyra said: “Thankfully the paramedics arrived really quickly, just as the head was crowning, and I was given gas and air for the last bit.”

Mum and baby were both taken to hospital where Kyra delivered the placenta and Autumn was given medical checks.

Kyra, a former pupil at The Hollins Technology College, said: “Thankfully Autumn is healthy and there was no complications, but I was really scared when I realised I was going to give birth at home without any gas and air, or any help if something went wrong.

“Darren was great, keeping calm when I was panicking but it was scary.”

The Lancashire Telegraph’s health expert Dr Tom Smith said: “When your waters have broken I would say you are definitely in labour and should be kept in hospital, as you can get infections in the womb if you continue without medical attention.”

Lynn Wissett, director of clinical care and governance for East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust said: “We are unable to provide comment about an individual’s care however, labour progresses at different speeds dependant upon a range of circumstances.

“We try to give consistent advice, and based on best practice evidence, it would appear that the labour progressed rather rapidly.

"We are very proud of our maternity services which score highly in external assessments, however if Ms Moore would like to discuss her concerns she is more than welcome to contact us.”