Mum-to-be was wrongly told her unborn baby had died

Hannah Cole, 26, of Wibsey, has complained to Bradford Royal Infirmary (BRI) after her treatment from medical staff during her pregnancy there.

Her waters broke at 20 weeks and she was admitted to the BRI on October 9 due to bleeding when her pregnancy was at the 22-week stage.

An investigation has now been launched by Bradford Royal Infirmary (Image: Newsquest)

She says she was told by doctors on the following day, October 10, that they could not detect a heartbeat and her unborn baby had died.

She was booked in to be induced at the BRI on the following day, October 11. At this appointment, Miss Cole says her gut feeling was that her unborn son was still alive. This led to her asking for a second scan from hospital staff and here she was told instead that a heartbeat could be found for her baby.

Miss Cole says she has been through a harrowing experience and is relieved that her pregnancy is continuing.

A Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust spokesman says it apologises to Miss Cole for the distress caused to her, adding an investigation is underway.

Her unborn son will be Miss Cole’s fourth child. She revealed the different types of emotions and stress she went through during an emotional few days for her earlier this month.

Hannah's unborn son will be her fourth child (Image: Newsquest)

She said: “It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions for me.

“It was harrowing when I was told, it was life-changing and then it was “It’s been absolutely crazy. I don’t know how they got it wrong.

“To be told different things in the space of a week has made my mind boggled.

“It’s been very stressful. I was happy about the outcome now. It was a very emotional couple of days.

“It was just relief when I was told that everything was fine.

It has been a harrowing time for Hannah (Image: Newsquest)

“I was feeling movements and I knew it wasn't right my gut feeling was telling me, I asked for a second scan the next day before I took any tablets, my little boy was still alive.

“I knew deep down that he was still there because I could still feel movements. I was absolutely devastated when they told me at first.

“I’m very unsure about going back to that hospital. I just think ‘how many times has this happened before?’ “I feel extremely let down by the BRI. I want other women to be aware of what I have been put through. I want other women to be aware of this situation.

“My family are absolutely gobsmacked about it and how it happened.”

Miss Cole today marks the 24-week stage of her pregnancy and has a due date of February 9, 2023.

She says her unborn son is healthy and she wants calmer closing months to her pregnancy after what she experienced last week.

Miss Cole added: “He is a little fighter.

“He is fine and I went for a heart scan and he is absolutely perfect. I’m fine in myself.

“I don’t want them to go through what I have been through. I want it to raise awareness.

“I’m very anxious about the birth at BRI. I’m a bit on edge. That is my closest hospital. I can’t be travelling to other sides of cities.

“They thought there was something wrong with his heart.

“I just want to enjoy the rest of my pregnancy now. I’ve got to stay at home quite a lot now because my waters have broken.

“Because my waters have broken I’m classed as at high risk.”

A Trust spokesman added that the hospital’s priority is making sure Miss Cole and her unborn son receive ‘appropriate clinical care’ for the rest of her pregnancy.

Sarah Hollins, director of midwifery at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “On behalf of the Trust, I would like to offer my sincere apologies for the distress and anxiety caused to Ms Cole regarding the treatment and care received during her current pregnancy.

“Ms Cole is fully aware that an investigation is in progress.

“Our priority is ensuring that Ms Cole and her unborn baby receive the appropriate clinical care for the remainder of her pregnancy.”

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