A heartbroken couple who lost their newborn baby shortly after birth are demanding answers.
The parents, Donna and Nathan Lea, have filed a complaint after they left the hospital with just a box of memories and a picture instead of their daughter, Stoke-on-Trent Live reports.
The couple feel that the way in which the birth was handled by the NHS led to the death of their daughter, Addison Lea Stevenson, and that Donna's concerns around the birth were largely ignored.
Baby Addison arrived by an emergency cesarean on September 21 at 30 weeks gestation, but prior to the birth Donna had asked for intervention as she suspected something was wrong.
On the day she died, Donna had texted her Nathan to say: "They're going to let my baby die."
They were left grief-stricken after Addison lost her fight for life in the neonatal intensive care unit just before midnight.
Following her death, an investigation into the care Donna received and Addison's death is being carried out at Royal Stoke University Hospital.
Donna had been taken to Royal Stoke on September 18 after her water broke suddenly, and was experiencing contractions the next evening.
She was monitored on a machine but she was taken off after the contractions stopped.
The 35-year-old mum-of-three said: “On Monday they sent me back down to the ward where I was showing every sign of infection.
"They gave me strict instructions that if I had a temperature or any contractions or I was sick I was to be taken back upstairs.
"I was completely ignored. I begged to get put back on the monitor. I was sick and it was put down to me not having anything to eat.
"I was showing signs of tachycardia. I was having contractions that were two minutes apart.
"In the space of six hours every possible sign was ignored.'
This has left her heartbroken, and she believes that if her pleas had been listened to, she would have been able to take her baby home to her other children.
Speaking about her experience, Donna said: "I want them to make changes and make sure the patient is listened to. I know if I was listened to my daughter would still be alive.
“Nothing will bring my baby back. I don’t want another person to be ignored and to be in the same predicament as me.
"Addison was still inside. By the time they put me on the monitor at 6.10pm her heart rate was at 200 and my temperature was 38.
“At 1pm I texted my partner and said they are going to let my baby die. By 12am that night my daughter was dead.”
Addison was born via C-section around 8pm but lost the fight for her life with her last heartbeat at 11.59pm.
Donna says there had been no issues up until the day of her birth and death, but that she knew during the birth that something was not right as her baby was not moving inside her.
She added: "She was always well. I’d been to see the midwife and everything was fine. She was three pounds and five ounces. I should’ve been walking out with her. She was perfect in every way.
"I had to have a C-section and I split it open as I was screaming. Once I had her they wanted me to go to intensive care but I refused.
"We feel like I was completely fobbed off. They need to learn to listen. I told them my daughter hadn’t moved on four occasions over four hours. They said it’s because I am anxious.
"The care I had beforehand was spot on but I was let down. Everyday is a struggle now."
Nathan, aged 30, added: “I was broken and gutted. I could’ve lost both of them. I’m lucky Donna is still here.
"They should’ve taken my baby out when she said. She knows her own body and when something is wrong.
The University Hospital of North Midlands confirmed an investigation has been launched into Addison’s death.
Medical director John Oxtoby said: “I would like to offer our sincere condolences to the family of Addison Lea Stevenson.
“It is always our aim to deliver the highest standards of care possible and have launched a full investigation into Addison’s care.
“Once this investigation is complete we will share the findings with Ms Lea as swiftly as possible.”
The family have thanked their friends Kimberley Cotton and Lucinda Shepherd - and everyone else - who have set up and donated to a fundraising page for Addison’s funeral.
