By Faye Mayern via SWNS
A mum who thought she was going to die in labor has said she feels ‘badly let down’ following failings in her maternity care which left her son severely disabled.
Sim Kaur, 42, lost three pints of blood and suffered a large hemorrhage while giving birth to her son Fateh in August 2018.
An ultrasound revealed that Sim, from Herts, had suffered a uterine rupture and Fateh was born by an emergency C-section at Hillingdon Hospital in Uxbridge, West London.
Fateh was born not breathing and was rushed to another hospital for brain cooling. He began suffering seizures and an MRI scan identified brain damage.
He has since been diagnosed with cerebral palsy and has a significantly reduced life expectancy to his late 20s.
Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust admitted that Sim’s rupture should have been avoided.
Sim, a former HR business partner, said: “When I was in labor, I was in severe pain and kept saying it was getting worse but nobody was listening to me.
“I felt completely helpless and I thought I was going to die.
“Since then, my mental health has suffered catastrophically. I will never recover from it fully and at some point I’ll lose my son as well.
“As it is, he can’t walk, talk or eat by himself, and to know that his condition will only deteriorate is heartbreaking.
“My poor boy has been left with a devastating injury which will impact him for the rest of his life, and to find out that this should have been avoided had we received the care we should have and been delivered earlier is heartbreaking.
“It’s incredibly difficult not to think that when Fateh and I needed help the most, we were badly let down by those who should have looked after us.
“I really hope that by sharing my story, something is learned from what’s happened. I wouldn’t want any other family suffering in the way we have.”
During Sim’s labor, doctors reported that baby Fateh’s heart rate was normal.
She had been scheduled to have a Cesarean section but Fateh moved position and it was decided to opt for a vaginal birth.
However it was later discovered that it had been pathological more than once which would have indicated the need for an urgent delivery.
Fateh, who is Sim’s second child, was born via C-Section in a very poor condition – he was floppy and pale with no heart rate.
He was discharged home in October 2018 and is now tube fed and receives medication for his seizures and muscle spasms.
Fateh remains non-verbal and has undergone gastrostomy surgery to be permanently fed via a tube. He’s also been diagnosed with epilepsy as well as cerebral palsy.
The six-year-old is classified as blind and has been admitted to hospital several times with respiratory symptoms and chest infections.
In addition to his physical disabilities, an educational psychologist identified that Fateh has multiple and profound learning difficulties.
He will require an adapted property and a highly qualified care team around the clock to meet his needs.
Sim has also been left unable to have any more children.
Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust admitted liability for Fateh’s injuries and it accepted that the management of his delivery “was not of an appropriate standard.”
It also acknowledged that there was ‘a delay’ in her maternity care, expressing “profound regret’.”
Irwin Mitchell is now working with the Trust to agree settlements for Sim and Fateh to ensure he has access to the lifelong care and support he will require.
Sim is sharing her son’s story to raise awareness of cerebral palsy. She’s also calling for lessons to be learned to improve maternity safety for families.
Auriana Griffiths, the specialist medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said: “What should have been a happy time turned to trauma and despair for Sim, who continues to be greatly affected physically and mentally by what happened to her and Fateh and following Fateh’s cerebral palsy diagnosis.
“Through our work, we sadly see too many families left devastated by birth injuries and life-long consequences these can have.
“While we welcome the Hospital Trust’s admissions, it’s vital that lessons are learned to improve maternity safety and prevent other families from going through what Sim and Fateh have.
“Sadly, Fateh’s life expectancy is significantly reduced due to his condition, but we’re determined to help him and Sim get the specialist support they need.”
The Trust has been contacted for comment.
