A woman is calling for hospital failings to be addressed after she lost her baby at 33 weeks.
Amy Booth said she was made to feel like a “nuisance” and was told that her appointments were “overkill”.
The 23-year-old is now campaigning for more robust monitoring processes at York Hospital to stop anyone else having to go through the same.
After learning she was pregnant, Ms Booth was told by doctors she was low-risk but early scans showed her baby was smaller than expected.
Speaking about her experience, she said: “This was my first pregnancy. I had no idea what to expect and I wholeheartedly trusted my specialist.
“I booked and attended all appointments as instructed, but I was made to feel like a nuisance. The reception team commented on my frequent visits and told me they were overkill.
“At around 29 weeks, I was told my baby was redirecting its energy and was uncomfortable. I was advised that the baby may not make it to full-term, and that I should be prepared for an early delivery.”
Weeks later, she was told during a scheduled scan that her baby was safe. Then at 33 weeks, just a week before she was due to give birth, Ms Booth stopped feeling movement and doctors confirmed her baby had died.
She said: “I was distraught. During delivery, I was made to feel like a nuisance. I don’t feel my feelings were respected at all.
“After delivery, I was moved to the bereavement suite with my family. Unfortunately, this was very close to the delivery suite, so I could hear newborns crying.”
She added: “I was absolutely devastated. Knowing that previous scans had highlighted potential issues, I was frustrated that my specialist didn’t push for an early delivery.
“They asked if I had any questions, and my specialist said there was nothing they could have done to save my baby.”
After an investigation by Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust found it was impossible to tell if her baby could have survived, Ms Booth turned to solicitor Tamlin Bolton.
They said: “If pulsatility is weak, it’s a sign that not enough blood flow is getting to the baby. York Hospital recorded the pulsatility figure on December 4 but failed to recognise that the figure indicated low blood flow to Amy’s baby.
“Had the hospital staff used the pulsatility index data that was available to them and carried out a repeat scan, it is likely the issue would have been highlighted.”
They added: “This would have prompted Amy’s admission to the hospital and the administration of steroids prior to an early delivery by caesarean on December 8 or 9, which would likely have saved her baby.”
York Teaching Hospitals response stated that the technical equipment needed to report the pulsatility index was not available to the Trust in 2020 and that this was in line with most Trusts at the time.
The case settled out of court in September and Ms Booth was awarded damages in recognition of the pregnancy loss and significant psychological injury.
Ms Booth said: “Pregnancy should be one of the happiest experiences of a woman’s life, but that wasn’t the case for me. Any future pregnancy I have will be high-risk, and despite always wanting to be a mother, I will find it very hard to trust a hospital.
“I urge every woman to ask questions and speak up if something feels off. My specialist took measurements that they allegedly could do nothing with. Had they interpreted the findings as they should, my baby could still be alive.”
She added: “I want to see more done to make sure that all data collected during a pregnancy is interpreted and followed up. I don’t want other women to experience the heartache I have.”
