A hospital trust has admitted that the death of an unborn baby at about 29 weeks' gestation was 'preventable' after her mother was sent home from Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary with pre-eclampsia and concerns over her baby's heart rate.

Danielle Brown, 31, from North Shields, North Tyneside, later received an undisclosed settlement from Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust following the death of her daughter, Maisie.

Hospital Acknowledges Baby's Death Was Preventable

The trust admitted a breach of duty and accepted that Maisie would have survived had Brown remained in hospital during her first admission on 13 February 2023. The trust apologised and acknowledged that parts of the maternity care provided to the mother fell below the standard she and her family should have received at the time.

Brown was about seven months pregnant when she became unwell and was treated at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, where doctors diagnosed pre-eclampsia, The Guardian reported. Monitoring also identified concerns about her unborn daughter's heart rate.

A consultant obstetrician advised that the mother should remain in hospital until her baby was delivered, but she was discharged on 14 February 2023 after being reviewed by another consultant.

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Mother Returned With Severe Pain

The following day, Brown contacted the hospital's maternity assessment unit after developing severe stomach cramps and other concerns. She said she initially struggled to reach the unit and was later told that her symptoms were most likely caused by a stomach bug.

Nevertheless, Brown insisted on being examined and returned to the hospital, where she waited for about 90 minutes before being assessed. Medical staff were unable to find Maisie's heartbeat, and a scan confirmed that the baby had died at around 29 weeks of pregnancy.

Brown said that she and her partner, Anthony Miller, were then left without a clear explanation of what had happened. The mother said she was given a booklet for bereaved parents and was told to book a slot to deliver her dead baby another day.

She returned to the Royal Victoria Infirmary on 17 February 2023 and gave birth to Maisie following a 10-hour labour, according to a report by LBC. Brown later described the experience of leaving the labour ward while seeing other parents taking their babies home as something that had remained with her.

The couple have since had a son, Harrison, but Brown said that Maisie continues to be an important part of their family.

Risks of Pre-Eclampsia in Late Pregnancy

Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy-related condition associated with high blood pressure and can lead to serious complications for both the pregnant woman and baby. Guidance from the National Health Service (NHS) says that severe cases can require hospital monitoring and treatment.

The agency noted that possible complications from the condition include premature birth, seizures, stroke and stillbirth. Symptoms that require prompt assessment can include severe headaches, vision problems, pain below the ribs, vomiting and sudden swelling.

The NHS defines a stillbirth as the death of a baby after 24 completed weeks of pregnancy. It also advises pregnant women to contact their midwife or maternity unit immediately if their baby is moving less than usual or if its normal movement pattern changes. These could indicate that a baby requires urgent assessment.

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