My baby died after doctors dismissed my pain as ‘trapped wind’ – I was told to be quiet when I screamed in agony

A BABY died at six days old after doctors said her mum’s life-threatening internal bleeding in labour was probably “trapped wind”, an inquest has heard.

Kimberley Newark, 31, went to Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, Sussex, suffering from excruciating pain in her abdomen on September 14, 2024, when she was 34 weeks pregnant.

Despite the severity of the pain, an inquest heard maternity staff put her symptoms down to trapped wind and gave her painkillers and IBS tablets.

She was later transferred to a ward where she was kept under observation.

But a short time later, the stabbing pains in her abdomen got even stronger – leaving her in “agony”.

In a written statement Kimberley said: “The pain became unbearable. I could no longer take it and screamed in agony. I pressed the bell.”

However, she said: “I was told to be quiet as there were other people on the ward who were sleeping.”

When medics eventually examined her after she fainted, they found the baby’s heart rate had dropped alarmingly, Kimberley was rushed into theatre for an emergency caesarean-section.

Whilst delivering baby Olivia doctors discovered that instead of “trapped wind” Kimberley had suffered a rupture of a major blood vessel – the splenic artery – causing her to lose around 11 litres of blood.

Baby Olivia was born via C-section but she wasn’t breathing and was pale, unresponsive and “floppy”.

She was resuscitated and transferred to specialist baby unit where she was later found to have suffered severe hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy.

The condition occurs when a baby’s brain does not receive enough oxygen or blood flow around the time of birth.

It can cause problems in the lungs, liver, heart, bowel and kidneys, or long-term disability or death in severe cases.

Kimberley was rushed into intensive care and put in a coma, before she and newborn Olivia were transferred to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

Tests later showed baby Olivia had no brain activity.

Doctors broke the devastating news to Kimberley and she and her partner Yann took the “heartbreaking” decision to remove ventilator support.

Olivia died on September 19, 2024 – she was just six days old.

Kimberley was so poorly she had to undergo a blood transfusion and she remained in hospital for a month – finally being discharged on October 17.

Today an inquest at Horsham was told the couple had repeatedly raised concerns about Kimberley’s deteriorating health in the days before she was admitted to hospital.

The hearing was told that as well as suffering from anaemia, constant nausea and exhaustion, she was also battling stomach and back pain.

When the pain became excruciating and she fainted at her home, possibly falling onto her stomach, the couple dialled 111 and Yann drove her to hospital.

On arrival Kimberley told doctors she was in extreme discomfort.

Aside from vomiting and suffering diarrhoea, the severe pain in her abdomen was almost constant.

She was examined in the A&E department and, when it was found she had low blood pressure, she was moved to a side cubicle and seen by consultant.

Kimberley, who has two older daughters, was told the pain she was suffering was most likely caused by “trapped wind” and she was given Buscopan – an antispasmodic stomach medication – and paracetamol.

She was admitted and transferred to the Bolney Ward – an antenatal/postnatal unit – and her partner Yann was sent home and told to return the following day.

But less than an hour later her condition deteriorated further and the pain began to get much worse.

Kimberly screamed from the intensity of the pain and fainted shortly afterwards.

She was aided back into the bed before tests were carried out.

Medics found that Olivia’s heartbeat had dropped to just 40 beats per minute and a decision was taken to carry out an emergency C-section.

Dr Dominic Yu, an A&E consultant who examined Kimberley on her arrival at the Princess Royal, told the inquest there were nothing to suggest Kimberley was suffering from internal bleeding or a splenic artery rupture.

In a statement read out to the court, Kimberley said Olivia was “loved” and the couple had looked forward to her birth with “hope, joy and excitement.”

Kimberley said: “We had looked forward to [Olivia] coming home.

“Although her life was very short she had a profound effect on our lives. We think about her every day.”

“We remember her especially on her birthday when we light a candle for her and hold her close in our hearts.

“We carry her with us always. She will forever be our daughter, our hope and our beautiful little girl.”

The University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust maternity services are under investigation following a review commissioned by former Health Secretary Wes Streeting.

A full review of the maternity services will be chaired by Donna Ockenden and is expected to assess the cases of more than 1,000 families, from 2018 onwards.

It comes after up to 15 bereaved families raised concerns over the deaths of their babies between 2021 and 2023.

A Freedom of Information request by bereaved parents found the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust carried out 227 internal studies into baby deaths between 2019 and 2023.

In 55 cases, it was indicated different care either “may” or was “likely” to have made a difference.

Previously Kimberley and Yann said their grief was made “so much worse” by learning other families had also lost their babies.

The devastated couple believe hospital staff missed vital warning signs and have instructed lawyers Slater and Gordon to represent them at the inquest.

A University Hospitals Sussex NHS Trust spokesperson said two reviews of Olivia’s care had been carried out.

A spokesperson for University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust said: “We offer our heartfelt condolences to Olivia’s family for their loss, and for the trauma and grief they have endured, and continue to live with. We sincerely hope the inquest helps to answer any questions Olivia’s family may have about her care, and we will do everything possible to help the coroner in their work.

“We also remain keen to meet with the family again afterwards, if they wish to do so, and we are committed to always improving how we listen to, and learn from, all of the families we serve.”

Earlier Dr Maggie Davies, chief nurse at the trust, said: “We are desperately sorry for the loss of Olivia, and the trauma and grief we know this has caused everyone in the family.”

The hearing continues.