A mother who begged for pain relief during a traumatic labour has shared her heartbreaking story, as a national investigation calls for women to come forward with their maternity experiences.
National Call for Birth Stories Launched
Women and families across the UK are being asked to share their maternity stories in a significant national call for evidence. This initiative aims to inform the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation (NMNI), which is being led by Baroness Amos.
Baroness Amos told Sky News she understands many women have "lost faith" in the maternity system but wants them to participate to ensure positive changes can be implemented. The national review was ordered by Health Secretary Wes Streeting following a series of concerning scandals within maternity services.
Kelly Redhead's Devastating Experience
Kelly Redhead's daughter Harper lived for less than half-an-hour after being born prematurely at just 18 weeks and three days. "She was laid on my chest and there was a beam of light coming in through the window… and I could just see her chest moving up and down and I watched until it wasn't," Kelly recalled.
Days before giving birth, Kelly had known something was seriously wrong, but her medical team sent her home. "I was begging for pain relief at this point because of how much pain I was in. And I was told 'no, you can't have anything'," she revealed.
Medical Complications and Systemic Failures
Kelly was carrying an infection that led to pelvic inflammatory disease, sepsis, and pre-term labour. When a medical professional informed her that her cervix was opening, Kelly remembered screaming at her mother, knowing that if she gave birth to Harper, her daughter would not survive.
Leeds Teaching Hospitals, responsible for Kelly's care, is facing its own independent inquiry. The trust's deputy chief medical officer, Dr Elizabeth Garthwaite, stated: "We are truly sorry that Kelly did not feel listened to about her concerns during her pregnancy, and we offer our sincere condolences to Kelly and her family for their sad loss of baby Harper."
Lasting Impact and Call to Action
Kelly keeps a memory box for Harper containing scan photos and prints of her tiny hands and feet. She says she will never be the same again, having suffered from post-natal depression and PTSD following her loss.
Despite her trauma, Kelly believes women should share their stories to highlight systemic failures. "I will be filling it in because we all have voices and as lost mums and lost families and lost parents and siblings, we deserve to be heard," she emphasized.
How to Participate in the Investigation
The call for evidence will remain open until 17 March. Women who have experienced birth trauma are encouraged to share their stories through various channels:
- Messaging Sky News on WhatsApp
- Emailing the dedicated maternity stories address
- Using the 'Your Report' feature on the Sky News app
This national investigation represents a crucial opportunity to address long-standing issues within maternity care, from feeling ignored by medical staff to experiencing long-term trauma. The findings could lead to significant improvements in how maternity services operate across the country.
