Q. Did you know the baby was a boy?
A. No we are happy to have a baby
Q. Did you know he was breech?
A. Yes we were told two days before he was born and we were scheduled to have Caesarian Section on 22nd Feb
Q. Were there any signs of labour before 7.30am on the day he was born?
A. No - the very gradual increase in 'False' (Bracks&Hicks) contractions since week 14 had lulled us into accepting slight tightening and discomfort as 'Normal' and 'Routine' with a little discomfort. No change in the discomfort until the first contraction in the shower at which point the waters broke and pain started low down. We had gone in the month before because there were signs labour had started, but that settled down and came to nothing eight hours later we were home.
Q. Did you notice any change in Cathy before labour started at 7.30
A. With Hindsight I did think she was very near to giving birth and I was anxious at the two week wait for the CS. So much so I asked the consultant if we could do it the following day - the day before he was born, but that was refused. The scan had not shown any reason to do it earlier than 'Normal' and they needed a reason to do it early. I had noticed that her shape was changing and the baby appeared to be more out in front. These things mean nothing to me, but to an expert they might have said she should go into Hospital - I just do not know...
Q. Why is there a ten year gap to your other Daughter?
A. Emily was a twin and delivered at 25weeks weighing 1lb 13oz - her sister 1lb 6oz Katie died aged 6 days and both were in the care of TMBU. It took us five years to get over that shock before considering having more family. After many tests and a few years we got onto an IVF programme. Charles has come at our third attempt and after several threatened miscarriages. The first attempt failed and the second attempt miscarried at 7 weeks.
Q. Did you suspect he might come early or quickly?
A. We saw specialists in London to assess the likelihood of early birth, but we had no reason to suspect he would be delivered quickly. The Consultant in London assessed everything as 'Normal' and suggested we assume everything will be fine. The only caveat he placed on that was that this pregnancy would work with the first pregnancy to give enough data to change his prediction... IE He would now say on a sample of two Cathy is prone to early-twin and fast deliveries!!!! Hindsight engineering if ever I heard it.
Q. How much will he be affected by the brain damage?
A. It is too early in medical science and his life to tell. Although they can assess the degree of damage they can't accurately determine how critical the damaged cells are to him in his brain. IE. If he were a car they can see holes in tyres but don't know if they are in the tyres on the road or on the spare wheel. They have to assume some will be in critical places and from the number of holes they must hit a few critical senses etc... by probability or luck as you want to view it.
The early signs in my novice opinion are good, but it is too early to tell very much for certain. A confused brain can get better as well as worse as it gets stimulated and develops over time. We will have to wait and see.
Q. Is it normal to have such a quick labour?
A. Yes but not common. The quickest labour is when the baby comes in one spontaneous contraction, but this is extremely rare. Now we know to ask we find 30min labour is quite common. Mind you so is 18hr labour. If Cathy ever gets pregnant again we are renting a flat next to the Hospital!!
Q. What can we do to help
A. Your support, interest and best wishes (and hugs) are more than enough. Remember we will not judge you, anything you say is taken the best way and understood. Silence is fine too. We know it is sometimes difficult to express feelings and many of you have gone through this and worse in your lives and this awakens memories you'd rather forget. We don't feel sorry for ourselves - life is too short for that; just carry on - business as usual - whatever feels right for you.
Q. What is his preferred name?
A. Cathy likes Charlie, I like Chas, Emily likes Chuck. He will be christened Charles so his nicknames are all valid and we really do not mind which you use.
Q. Do you have anything to say about the NHS?
(bear in mind I am a British Standards, ISO 9000 and Safety Auditor!)
A. The people have been brilliant and the technology is superb (If I had to rate any one aspect of the service it would get over 99 out of 100), but I have observed things that make me think things could be improved (this is my being picky list):
1. My opinion was ignored in favour of talking to Cathy on that morning - as it happened it would have made no difference, but I think husbands should be listened to when they say they need to bring their wives in. I now believe the body changes in preparation for birth make the woman less aware of things and how they are changing so the Husband is probably the better judge. But hey I only have a sample of two.
2. The ambulance crew appeared to only have large adult tubing to do suction and remove fluid from Charles nose and mouth after he was born. This was too large to do the job properly in my opinion.
3. It did not appear that the paramedic was trained to deal with newborn babies - I think this should be on the training programme if it isn't already.
4. Standards of hygiene were lower than I expected in one case and a basic thing like removing bloody gloves after doing stitches and before touching re-used items such as trolleys was not observed.
5. Bacterial spread is trying to be controlled by gels and antibacterial fluids, but no one appears to have stopped to look at method studies to change the way bacteria spread and are carried. IE things that every person touches like doors, bins, lift buttons and things like this could be designed to minimise the risk of cross contamination. It might be better to issue rubber gloves and over shoes at the doors than put gels there and have door and lift controls you don't have to touch.
6. The number of things that require small objects to be ripped, torn, uncapped is amazing and it is not surprising that things regularly end up on the floor. These could be designed to be captive or stay attached. No shoe cleaning is promoted anywhere - we saw several stepped-on dog messes around the Hospital and I am sure many other germs get carried around on peoples feet then if any little tear-off is picked up... Bobs your germ on your hand. All the bags we carry, and often clothes end up on the floor in the hot wards.
7. The meeting and eating places have bins you need both hands to touch the rubbish or the bin (the rubbish holes in the lids have such strong springs the rubbish is mashed onto the lid then over your hand and if you use one hand the bin falls over) to put rubbish in. Yet on the wards they use foot operated bin lids. This inconsistency makes little sense to me as many patients use these meeting places too.
...As I say I am an Auditor by training and trade so If I can't spot something that needs improving I would not be very good at my job. I.E. to counter the above I could list thousands of things that were spot on.
Q. Why don't you appoint a Barrister
A. I do not believe anyone has done anything not to be 100% proud of in caring for Charles. He could not be in a better place.
Q. What advice would you give the First Responders, given he has brain damage?
A. The chance to have and to hold your child is so precious that if someone can help and wants to help I think it is a very sad person that would not hug them and thank them. If I were to make a comment it would only be to try to help get funding for improved equipment and training on wider aspects of what they will have to deal with so they are better prepared for the next need. The concept of holding locally some of the types of equipment that saves lives in time critical situations is one I have fully supported in the past and shall continue to do.
I give a very special Thank You to the First responders and Ambulance crew that morning. You could so easily have given up and now I have a son to develop and cherish - he is affecting so many lives I can't begin to explain how good that makes me feel!!
Q. What advice would you give Worthing Hospital - given they resuscitated him?
A. Keep up the good work - I don't know what you did, and if possible please arrange training and equipment so Paramedics can do it at the scene.
Q. Any advice for TMBU?
A. The quality of equipment and care for the baby has improved in ten years, and the same is not true for care for parents and visitors. You are the most fantastic people at baby care can we parents have some of your review time at the end of the year so we get prompt offers of counselling and some structured periodic access to progress notes and test results to see for ourselves. Depending on the Nurse caring for several critically ill babies to give you an update is not really adequate. There is no clear waiting area and one seat for visitors waiting outside. I am sure the survival and quality of life results for babies is greatly improved, but I felt much more informed last time I was there and there was a waiting room where we parents met and talked about our babies. That room has gone to make way for more care positions for babies so I understand the dilemma. Utlimately it all comes down to costs... Keep up the good work I take back all the above and yes the focus is rightly 100% on the baby!! |