Pregnant mum who gave birth in her bedroom was turned away from Ballarat Base hospital

A pregnant mother having contractions was told by hospital staff to ‘go home’ about an hour before she gave birth in her bedroom.

Courtnie Apps was turned away from the maternity ward at Ballarat Base Hospital in Victoria despite being in immense pain on Monday night.

She arrived at the hospital with her best friend Ashlee Meek and the expecting mother was assessed by a doctor.

But the doctor said her agony was likely being caused by a kidney infection and that she wasn’t actually in labour.

Ms Apps was then sent home with painkillers and a strong sleeping pill.

Courtnie Apps (pictured with best friend Ashlee Meek) was turned away from the maternity ward at Ballarat Base Hospital despite being in immense pain 

‘They said, “You’re not in labour so this pain you’re having must be from your kidney infection, which can be quite painful”,’ Ms Apps told 9News.

Within an hour of arriving home, Ms Apps gave birth to her daughter, Aladia Hope, in the front bedroom of her home.

Luckily for the Ballarat mum, Ms Meek, who was by her side through the entire ordeal, is a nursing student and has had six children of her own.

‘I had to put my hand on the baby’s head to stop her from coming out too fast and doing too much damage, all while trying to dial triple zero with my other hand,’ Ms Meek said.

‘It was just pure luck really that nothing happened and that baby didn’t need any help and that mum didn’t have a serious haemorrhage.’

The pair were transported to Ballarat Base Hospital by ambulance and say even after they arrived no one apologised for what happened.

Ballarat Base Hospital said it was unable to provide details on specific cases when approached for comment.