A BABY boy died one week after his birth by emergency Caesarean section following an unsuccessful forceps delivery at the National Maternity Hospital, an inquest has heard.
Daniel McGovern, Leinster Park, Harold’s Cross, Dublin, was in a very poor condition following his birth at the hospital at Holles Street, Dublin, on November 16th last year.
Coroner Dr Brian Farrell recorded the cause of the baby’s death as severe brain injury, due to lack of oxygen to the brain, which was caused by birth trauma.
“I’m satisfied the causation is birth trauma,” said the coroner.
Dublin Coroner’s Court heard the baby boy suffered a prominent traumatic lesion (occipito osteodiastasis) on his head with bleeding within the skull.
A subgaleal haemorrhage, which is rare and which can lead to considerable bleeding within the scalp, was also detected some time after his birth.
Both injuries are very rare.
The coroner said he was satisfied that instrumental intervention (for example use of a forceps) was common to both of the conditions (occipito osteodiastasis and subgaleal haemorrhage) but he also had to take into account other risk factors.
These included that there was failure to progress in labour and that the baby was big and was lying in an abnormal position.
“While there is no doubt a forceps is a risk factor in both of these conditions, there are other risk factors which include the failure to progress and the failure to deliver,” Dr Farrell said.
He recorded a narrative verdict, a summary of the facts of the case.
The baby died at the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, Dublin, on November 23rd, 2010, a week after he was born.
The inquest heard the baby’s mother, Claire McGovern, presented to the hospital on the morning of November 16th, 2010, with painful contractions.
Ms McGovern, who was on a foetal heart monitor, received an epidural at 12.40pm.
Active pushing began at 5.55pm.
It was stopped at 6.10pm as there was little descent of the head and the midwives decided active pushing should be stopped.
This was intended to allow further descent of the head over a period of an hour.
At 6.40pm, Ms McGovern was distressed with contractions and active pushing was restarted.
She was reviewed by a doctor an hour later with regard to a possible delivery, using instruments.
Some time later a doctor attempted to deliver the baby with a forceps.
However, after two contractions, it was decided to proceed to a Caesarean section.
The baby was delivered easily at 8.11pm, but his condition was poor at birth.
The coroner expressed his condolences to baby Daniel’s parents.