Mother's horror at 'shocking' delivery

A mother told yesterday of the horror of seeing her baby boy facing the wrong way as she gave birth at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital. His face had been an abnormal dark-purple colour and he had had to be resuscitated and was transferred to the special care baby unit.

The mother complained formally about her treatment in the care of Lynda Cantillon, 60, who faces six charges of misconduct. Ms Cantillon worked at the PEH as a midwife between February and September 2003.

On the final day of the resumed hearing, the Nursing & Midwifery Council's professional conduct committee heard details of the mother's turmoil during a water birth, which was reputedly Ms Cantillon's first delivery in Guernsey.

'The whole delivery was wrong,' alleged the mother, known only as patient B.

The married woman, who had worked in the maternity unit at the PEH, was admitted to hospital to give birth in February 2003.

'I decided I wanted to have a water birth and I would decide on pain relief at the time,' she told the hearing.

Ms Cantillon, whom she did not know, was looking after her in labour.

'I was not monitored at all and my baby's heart rate was not monitored,' the patient said.

'I was in a lot of discomfort and had requested an epidural.'

She had been given two doses of morphine to relieve her pain.

'When I was in heavy labour, I was begging for Entonox 'gas and air' at one stage,' she said.

It was alleged that she was not properly examined and no foetal checks were made. She was taken to the pool instead after being told by Ms Cantillon that it was too late for an epidural.

There were problems locating a consultant for consent for an epidural, the hearing heard.

'I knew things were not going how they should and just wanted to give birth. I knew I had not been examined and had not been observed,' the mother said.

She was very distressed and was shouting and swearing during the last stages of labour and then her baby's head was delivered. 'The baby was facing the wrong way,' she said.

Clinical supervisor of midwives Sandra Harris arrived to witness her first water birth at the PEH. She questioned how long the baby's head had been out and was told several minutes.

She believed the baby's face was a distinctly different colour from normal and when finally delivered it was quite white.

'The baby was limp,' she said.

'It was a shocking delivery.'

She was concerned about a possible post-natal haemorrhage.

Ms Harris told the hearing she believed Ms Cantillon had been employed 'to bring normality to Guernsey' because not many midwives had expertise in water births at that time.

'I went through all the policies and procedures 'with Ms Cantillon' and what should have happened with a water birth,' said Ms Harris.

It emerged that the respondent had been used to delivering on her own in a previous job in the UK.

'I was aware things were not necessarily going as they should and assistance was required,' Victoria Le Lievre, a junior midwife at the time, told the hearing. 'I was concerned this baby had not been delivered by the time it should have been.'

The child is now fit and healthy, the hearing was informed.

Part of the hearing was held in private to enable committee members to watch a video of the birth.

At the conclusion of all the evidence, the case against the woman was adjourned sine die.

A verdict is expected to be announced early next year, probably in London.

Ms Cantillon did not appear at the hearing.