Family Marks Baby Loss Awareness Week With Call For Care Improvements

A devastated young mother whose daughter Isabella was stillborn two years ago after medical experts missed opportunities to save the child is marking Baby Loss Awareness Week 2017 by calling on healthcare providers to do more to spot the signs of babies being in distress.

Gaby Mynett, 21, from Bedford, had attended the town’s hospital on several occasions in the later stages of her pregnancy with Isabella, after scans showed that the baby’s fetal growth had slowed and she had also experienced reduced levels of movement.

On two occasions Gaby was sent home by the consultant without examination, with no plans for follow-up investigations such as a further scan. Tragically on October 27th 2015 Gaby was given the devastating news that an ultrasound scan had failed to find Isabella’s heartbeat.

An investigation was held into Isabella’s death shortly afterwards. A serious incident report and an independent review concluded that health professionals failed to intervene on several occasions and that an induction could have ultimately saved Isabella’s life.

Following the ordeal, Gaby and her partner Matt instructed specialist medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to help them gain answers and justice from Bedford Hospital NHS Trust in relation to Isabella’s death. The Trust have since admitted liability and said that they are deeply sorry for the shortcomings in care. Now, to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week which is being held from October 9th to 15th, they are speaking out on the issue in the hope that lessons will be learned.

Amie Minns, a solicitor and medical negligence expert at Irwin Mitchell’s Cambridge office, said: 

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“This is a truly heart-breaking case in which a couple has gone through something which simply no parent should have to face.

“Two years on Gaby and Matt are still working to come to terms with their loss. While admissions of liability have been made in the case, we are now focused on ensuring they get the justice they deserve regarding their daughter’s death.

“Baby Loss Awareness Week is an important time to reflect on and celebrate the lives of babies and our clients are hopeful that improvements will been seen in care after they have spoken out.” Amie Minns - Associate Solicitor

Gaby’s pregnancy with Isabella was classified as low-risk and everything had progressed as expected until September 7th 2015, when a routine appointment at 33 + 6 weeks revealed a reduction in growth from the 90th to 50th centile. Despite the drop, no follow-up or referral for a scan was made.

A month later on October 9th, an ultrasound showed that Isabella’s growth rate had dropped even further to the 10th centile. Due to concerns related to the rate, Gaby was sent to the Day Assessment Unit (DAU) at Bedford Hospital and a consultant reviewed the scan without meeting with Gaby. However, once again she was sent home with no follow-up plan recorded.

Gaby returned to the DAU a week later with concerns regarding reduced fetal movement, but a CTG performed by a midwife showed some movement towards the end of the reading. The results were discussed with a consultant without Gaby present and again Gaby was sent home. Finally, on October 27th and at 41 weeks, Gaby once again attended the DAU with reduced foetal movements. An ultrasound scan could not find Isabella’s heartbeat and, tragically, her death was confirmed.

Looking back on her loss, Gaby, who has a four-year-old son Joshua and gave birth to George in November last year, said: “Losing Isabella has had a profound effect on me and initially I visited her in the cemetery everyday as I hated to think she would be alone. 

“Matt and I feel so blessed to have George and Joshua but watching them grow has been made harder through knowing that Isabella never got the opportunity to do that.”

Gaby recently started a university course in midwifery and was inspired to make the decision after what she and her family had been through.

She said: “We are still coming to terms with losing Isabella but I hope that if any good can come from our loss, it will be that lessons will be learned and that I can help other families and ensure the safe delivery of their children.

“Barely a day goes by when I do not think of Isabella but Baby Loss Awareness Week is an important time for bereaved families to come together and celebrate their children’s lives. We truly hope that more can be done to improve care standards so that other families do not face the nightmare we have been through.”