Sydney mother turned away from two hospitals before losing baby

A pregnant Sydney woman was allegedly rejected by two public hospitals in six days before giving birth to a stillborn baby.

Heartbroken mother Michelle Whelan said she was in active labour for six days before giving birth to her son earlier this month.

Ms Whelan claimed she was turned away from Liverpool and Campbelltown Hospital, in New South Wales, three times in six days.

‘The first two days weren’t so bad, I just didn’t realise what was going on,’ the mother-of-three told Daily Mail Australia. 

Heartbroken mother Michelle Whelan said she was in active labour for six days before giving birth to her stillborn son earlier this month (pictured)

Ms Whelan claimed she was turned away from Liverpool and Campbelltown Hospital, in New South Wales, three times in six days despite suffering pains and a fever

Ms Whelan claimed she was turned away from Liverpool and Campbelltown Hospital, in New South Wales, three times in six days despite suffering pains and a fever

After a scheduled antenatal appointment at Campbelltown Hospital, Ms Whelan said everything ‘looked really good’ but when she got home, she believes her waters broke.

‘Soaking several towels, change of clothes and just kept gushing,’ she said.

Ms Whelan was taken to hospital in an ambulance and despite being in ‘extreme pain’, scans of the baby were okay. 

‘If I remember correctly they did a scan and baby was sideways, elbow and shoulder first, but no dilation,’ she said.

‘There was a quick peak in baby’s heart rate from 134 to 183 for a brief second, but returned to normal very quickly and didn’t appear to happen again so was put down to my movements.’  

At 31 weeks pregnant, the amniotic fluids were tested and came back negative so the pregnant mother was sent home despite not ‘feeling right’.  

‘I wasn’t in pain, but I felt different,’ she said.

‘I remember saying to Liverpool, they were making me feel like it was all in my own head.’

Ms Whelan said she went home and stressed over every movement because she couldn’t sleep and continued to feel more ‘contraction’ style, sharp pains the following day.

Little baby Axyl-Jackson was delivered through caesarean on May 6 and his family held a memorial service for him 11 days later 

Little baby Axyl-Jackson was delivered through caesarean on May 6 and his family held a memorial service for him 11 days later 

The heartbroken mother went to the hospital several times including the time after she claimed her water broke days before she gave birth (pictured with her daughter)

The heartbroken mother went to the hospital several times including the time after she claimed her water broke days before she gave birth (pictured with her daughter)

After arriving at Campbelltown Hospital the doctors told her she was five centimetres dilated but by 11pm that night during delivery, her baby was found to be stuck by the shoulders.

‘I was told the baby’s head was down and we couldn’t find a heartbeat,’ she said. 

‘That’s when it hit me, I said “he’s gone”.’ 

The devastated mother questioned why she was discharged from hospital given her circumstances.

‘I gather he died after going home from Liverpool with so many question marks on the discharge summary and so many risks present,’ Ms Whelan said.

‘I woke up in recovery and just wanted to go see my baby. To hold him and know he was real was here and did exist.

The devastated mother (second from left) questioned why she was discharged from hospital given her circumstances and is waiting to hear what the autopsy reports

The devastated mother (second from left) questioned why she was discharged from hospital given her circumstances and is waiting to hear what the autopsy reports

‘I spent the next two days holding my baby, telling him how sorry I was I couldn’t get him help, holding his hands.’

Little baby Axyl-Jackson was delivered through caesarean on May 6 and his family held a memorial service for him 11 days later.

‘It doesn’t feel real at the moment. I have my moments but it was a beautiful service, just wish it wasn’t for my baby,’ Ms Whelan told Daily Mail Australia. 

‘It’s hard to help the two youngest understand what happened to their brother when I don’t understand it all myself.’  

The family are now waiting for autopsy results and said that a critical incident report had been raised for Campbelltown Hospital and a formal complaint for Liverpool Hospital.

‘I don’t know if being turned away caused the still birth of my son or some freak virus,’ Ms Whelan said.

'It doesn't feel real at the moment. I have my moments but it was a beautiful service, just wish it wasn't for my baby,' Ms Whelan (pictured) told Daily Mail Australia

‘It doesn’t feel real at the moment. I have my moments but it was a beautiful service, just wish it wasn’t for my baby,’ Ms Whelan (pictured) told Daily Mail Australia

‘I’m not sure, only the autopsy can tell us what happened but I do believe with more monitoring more consistency over a 24 hour period could have been what could have saved him, but I guess I’ll never know.’

A South Western Sydney Local Health District spokesperson said they were continuing to provide support to Ms Whelan.

‘We would like to extend our most sincere condolences to Ms Whelan during this difficult time, and are investigating the matter,’ a statement read.

‘High risk pregnancies require management by specialist doctors and midwives, and individualised management plans are developed for all patients. Birth plans are also discussed and C-sections are recommended when medically necessary.

‘Patients are medically assessed by specialist staff in the birthing unit and are discharged after a full assessment and medical review.’              



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