"I had laboured, pushed, and undergone an emergency forceps and suction delivery with a cervical stitch still in place"

A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2019 and 2023:

First pregnancy – 2019

In 2019, I presented to the hospital at 24 weeks pregnant with vaginal bleeding and significant pain. I was admitted but no scans were performed, no internal examinations were carried out, and no meaningful assessments were made beyond routine observations. Despite my symptoms, I was discharged and sent home.

Six days later, as my condition worsened, I brought myself back to the John Radcliffe and was again taken to maternity. Once more, I was placed in a room where only basic observations were taken. No scans. No checks. No urgency. My partner raised serious concerns and suggested that I might be in labour. He was dismissed and told this was “not possible.” Five minutes later, staff suddenly rushed me into a delivery room, where I was then left alone.

It was only after my partner urgently sought out a student nurse that I was finally examined. Upon examination, my baby’s head was clearly visible. I pushed once and my son was born at just 24 weeks, weighing 1.07 lbs. This traumatic and premature birth was preceded by repeated missed opportunities to intervene. I cannot describe the devastation of knowing that earlier action may have changed everything.

Second pregnancy

During my second pregnancy, I had a cervical stitch inserted due to my history. I was later informed that this stitch had been removed prior to labour. When I presented in labour with contractions, I clearly and repeatedly requested an epidural in advance in case complications arose. I was reassured that this would be provided if needed. As labour progressed, my baby became stuck at 7cm dilation for over an hour. I repeatedly begged for an epidural. I was refused every time.

I was continually told to push, despite the fact that each push was cutting off my baby’s circulation. I was in extreme distress and pain, and the situation was clearly becoming dangerous. The response from staff was painfully slow. Despite my earlier requests and repeated assurances, I was never given an epidural.

Eventually, when my baby still could not be delivered, an emergency assisted delivery using forceps and suction was performed. I felt every second of it. I suffered significant tearing. I was later told that both my baby and I were close to dying.

Six months later

Six months after giving birth, I attended my GP due to ongoing vaginal discomfort. I was then told—shockingly—that I still had a cervical stitch left inside me. I was in utter disbelief. This meant that I had laboured, pushed, and undergone an emergency forceps and suction delivery with a cervical stitch still in place, something that no one noticed throughout my labour or delivery. My GP had to remove it. I cannot begin to understand how this was missed.

The implications of this oversight are horrifying. The care I received across both pregnancies demonstrates a pattern of dismissal, neglect, poor communication, and dangerous clinical failures. I was repeatedly not listened to, my concerns were ignored, and basic checks were not carried out.

The physical and emotional consequences of this will stay with me for life.