Rebecca Walker described how the first time she held baby Charlie-Jay was also the last as he died in her arms (Picture: SWNS)
A one-day-old baby died from a serious infection a week after his mum was sent home from hospital told she had wet herself when in fact her waters had broken.
Rebecca Walker, 46, was 26 weeks into her pregnancy with son Charlie-Jay when she began to lose water on June 12, 2019. Medics at Royal Stoke University Hospital did scans but said the fluid was likely a result of incontinence.
Despite her concerns, she was discharged and told to come back for a repeat scan in two weeks’ time. She was also reassured that pain on her right-side was from her baby leaning on a nerve.
But when she was rushed to another hospital with further pain a week later, she was informed her waters had broken and there were now signs of an infection.
Her son was born later that day and was admitted to the neonatal unit with suspected sepsis – where the body attacks itself in response to an infection – as well as respiratory issues.
Charlie-Jay, Rebecca’s first child with partner David Brindley, 35, tragically died the following day on June 21, 2019.
Mum-of-three Rebecca, of Rugeley, Staffordshire, said: ‘The news that Charlie-Jay wasn’t going to make it came as a complete shock to me and I remember begging the doctors to help him.
‘He passed away in my arms. This was the first and last time I was able to hold him.
‘Dave and I stayed in the hospital for around 24 hours afterwards but I found it difficult to even look at Charlie-Jay.
‘We were both absolutely devastated and having to tell my children that their baby brother had died was unbearable.’
Rebecca Walker was 26 weeks into her pregnancy with baby Charlie-Jay when she began to lose water (Picture: Irwin Mitchell/SWNS)
Rebecca’s partner David Brindley and baby Charlie-Jay (Picture: Irwin Mitchell/SWNS)
Charlie-Jay was just a day old when he died (Picture: Irwin Mitchell/SWNS)
The infant’s headstone noting his tragically young age of just 31 hours (Picture: Irwin Mitchell/SWNS)
The couple has now been awarded an undisclosed settlement from the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, which runs Stoke Hospital.
Rebecca has told how she continues to be affected by the loss of her baby more than four years on and is urging medics to listen to the concerns of mums-to-be.
‘My mental health has been hugely impacted by losing Charlie-Jay and for a long time I felt so much guilt that I couldn’t save him,’ she said.
‘I really wish I had pushed for more to be done when I first went to the hospital as I didn’t feel like I had wet myself, but I trusted the professionals.
‘More than four years on, I’m still deeply affected. I spend a lot of time at home as I feel safe there and I find it tough seeing other people with their babies.
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‘I have had amazing support, however, from family and friends, Facebook support groups and SANDS charity.
‘Nothing will ever make up for the pain we continue to feel, but I hope that by speaking out I can urge medics to listen to the concerns of mums-to-be.
‘We know our bodies and when something’s wrong, so please don’t be afraid to ask questions or for a second opinion.
‘It’s also vital that people who have experienced baby loss know they’re not alone and there’s support out there.’
Through NHS Resolution, the Trust admitted that had tests been performed during Rebecca’s initial hospital visit and a ‘rupture of membranes’ diagnosed, treatment would have been given.
Medics at Royal Stoke University Hospital did scans but said Rebecca’s fluid loss was likely a result of incontinence (Picture: SWNS)
It also offered its ‘sincere condolences’ to Rebecca and her family but denied liability for Charlie-Jay’s death.
Helen Ashley, UHNM Deputy Chief Executive, said: ‘We would like to offer our sincere condolences to Mrs Walker and her family for the death of Charlie-Jay and have every sympathy for the difficulties that she is experiencing as a result.’
Kayleigh Hunter, one of the specialist medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell representing the family, said: ‘This is a truly tragic case in which a couple have been left devastated by the sudden and tragic loss of their baby.
‘Rebecca and David also understandably had a number of questions and concerns over the care they received prior to Charlie-Jay being born and whether more could have been done to save their son.
‘It’s our view that if an examination during Rebecca’s visit to Royal Stoke Hospital had been performed it would have shown evidence that her waters had broken. and Rebecca would have received appropriate treatment to reduce the risk of infection and improve Charlie-Jay’s outcome in the event of pre-term delivery.
‘While nothing can ever make up for the pain and grief they’ve suffered, we hope the settlement will go some way to providing the family with a degree of closure and help them to move forward with their lives as best they can.’
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