Heartbroken mother whose baby died had to 'grieve twice' after hospital 'mistake'
A devastated mum has revealed how she was told that her baby had died twice in a catastrophic hospital blunder.
Alisha Pegg, 25, arrived at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, Kent, in premature labour on February 27 this year, but she was sent home where she gave birth.
The mum was then rushed back to the hospital in the early hours of February 28 where she was given the heartbreaking news that her daughter, Grace, had passed away.
She then discovered Grace was still alive before she passed away four hours after being born 22 weeks premature.
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Alisha said that she didn't realise she was in premature labour when she first arrived at the hospital experiencing pain and nausea.
She revealed: "I hadn't felt Grace move in a couple of days, I was doubled over in pain and being sick.
"When I phoned the hospital they assumed I had a water infection but I went to get checked due to not feeling her move.
"On arrival a midwife asked what the pain felt like.
"The first word that came out of my mouth was labour."
However, even though she expressed her concerns to staff, they did not check to see if she was in labour and instead did some general tests.
"One doctor did a bedside scan for one minute.
"A heartbeat was seen but no movement.
"I said I wasn't happy and my body felt like it needed to push.
"I was told to go home and no follow up or advice was given."
Alisha went on to experience nausea and vomiting at home and the room began to spin as she went into full-blown labour.
While she called an ambulance, it was too late and she gave birth alone 15 minutes later.
She explained that she called an ambulance at 2:30 am, but by 2:45 am, she has given birth on her bathroom floor.
"I can't fault 999 or the paramedics - they were amazing," she said.
"When they had calmed me down, I phoned my mum and all I heard was a scream I'll never forget."
Grace arrived at the hospital again with her mother, but things took a turn for the worse when she was separated from her baby for an hour after arriving.
She was then given the news that no parent wants to hear - her baby had died.
But just 45 minutes later, Grace was brought back to her mother alive after she was left distraught from the news that she had died.
However, doctors claimed that they couldn't offer her any medical assistance, and Grace passed away at 6:30 am.
Alisha believes that her daughter may have survived if she hadn't been turned away when she first arrived at the hospital.
She said: "In one review, a consultant told my mum and I that I 'wasn't forced to go home'.
“Although Grace was very premature, she survived four hours by herself with no medical intervention.
"If she was born in hospital and received appropriate care straight away her chance of survival would have gone up by at least 30 per cent.
"We were massively neglected and are still yet to receive an apology.
"The hardest part was having to tell my other daughter Ava why her baby sister never came home, how she grew her wings and turned into a butterfly."
Rebecca Martin, the chief medical officer at at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, told the media: "We are truly sorry that we didn't provide the standard of care and support needed.
"We have changed our practices and policies following Grace's sad death, including introducing further monitoring for those at risk of preterm labour.
"We will continue to ensure we provide ongoing support to answer all the family's questions."
A JustGiving page has now been set up by Alisha to fund a memorial bench for her late daughter.
She wrote: "I am looking to get a memorial bench in memory of Grace, this will be placed in Ashford memorial Gardens and any left over donations will also go to East Kent baby memorial gardens."
Topics: News
Emma Guinness