Mum loses baby hours after leaving hospital

2:00pm Sunday 16th September 2012 in News

A YOUNG mum tragically lost her baby just hours after leaving hospital.

Toni Garlick, 28, was 34 weeks pregnant with her fourth child when she began experiencing agonising stomach pain.

She was admitted to Southend Hospital last Monday and underwent tests, which failed to find a cause for the pain.

Because she had been given strong painkillers she was advised to stay in hospital until Friday.

However, believing she would be more comfortable at home, she discharged herself a day early.

Later, she began haemorrhaging and had to undergo an emergency caesarean, which came too late to save her child.

Miss Garlick, of Finchley Road, Westcliff , said: “I was in so much pain.

“I thought I was in labour and begged them to get him out or give me a caesarean, but they refused.

“They said there was nothing wrong and I would be sent home.

“Because I had pethidine, they said I would have to wait until Friday, but because they’d found nothing wrong and it was so noisy in the hospital, I went home on Thursday.

“At midnight I woke up soaked in blood and was rushed to hospital. They operated and our little boy was born at 3.04am, but he was dead. They said it was placental abruption.”

Miss Garlick believes medics should have spotted problems with the pregnancy sooner.

She added: “One of the doctors came around and I asked if I was to blame for going home, but they told me I should not blame myself and I should not blame the hospital either, but I do blame them.

“I knew something wasn’t right. He had been moving until Thursday, then I felt nothing.

“They said there was nothing wrong, but he would have lived if they had done what I asked – I’m sure of that.” A hospital spokesman confirmed Miss Garlick was advised not to leave hospital until the pethidine had worn off.

Sue Hardy, director of nursing, added: “We are deeply saddened by Mrs Garlick’s loss and offer our sincere condolences to the whole family at this very difficult time.

“During her care here, Mrs Garlick’s pregnancy was fully monitored and the cause of her pain thoroughly investigated over the course of several days.

“Mrs Garlick then took the decision to discharge herself from hospital against medical advice and, subsequent to that decision, there were further complications with her pregnancy.

“Mrs Garlick was re-admitted to the hospital and underwent an emergency caesarean section, but sadly it was too late to save her baby.

“We fully understand the distress the loss of a baby brings and will continue to offer our support to the family in their grief.”

Comments (8)

2:37pm Sun 16 Sep 12

wendiex says...

So sad, my sympathy with the family. Didnt mrs garlick have a scan to see how the baby was i wonder!
So sad, my sympathy with the family. Didnt mrs garlick have a scan to see how the baby was i wonder! wendiex

2:58pm Sun 16 Sep 12

pendulum says...

“One of the doctors came around and I asked if I was to blame for going home, but they told me I should not blame myself and I should not blame the hospital either, but I do blame them. "

Charming. The hospital spared her feelings. I guess they didn't want to upset her by stating the obvious; that if she had followed medical advice and stayed there, rather than discharging herself, the result may well have been different.

RIP to the poor baby. Shame on the parent.

When I stayed in Southend hospital it wasn't particularly pleasant but I accepted the professionals knew best, and I would not have gone against their advice.
“One of the doctors came around and I asked if I was to blame for going home, but they told me I should not blame myself and I should not blame the hospital either, but I do blame them. " Charming. The hospital spared her feelings. I guess they didn't want to upset her by stating the obvious; that if she had followed medical advice and stayed there, rather than discharging herself, the result may well have been different. RIP to the poor baby. Shame on the parent. When I stayed in Southend hospital it wasn't particularly pleasant but I accepted the professionals knew best, and I would not have gone against their advice. pendulum

3:35pm Sun 16 Sep 12

BertSS6 says...

Any loss of an infant is absolutely tragic. However, how can the hospital be blamed when this patient self discharged, against medical advice?
Any loss of an infant is absolutely tragic. However, how can the hospital be blamed when this patient self discharged, against medical advice? BertSS6

3:49pm Sun 16 Sep 12

emcee says...

BertSS6 wrote:
Any loss of an infant is absolutely tragic. However, how can the hospital be blamed when this patient self discharged, against medical advice?
Medical advice isn't always the best course of action. However, having said that, had she followed their advice and still lost the baby then she may have had more of a leg to stand on.
[quote][p][bold]BertSS6[/bold] wrote: Any loss of an infant is absolutely tragic. However, how can the hospital be blamed when this patient self discharged, against medical advice?[/p][/quote]Medical advice isn't always the best course of action. However, having said that, had she followed their advice and still lost the baby then she may have had more of a leg to stand on. emcee

4:01pm Sun 16 Sep 12

BertSS6 says...

If I take my car to the garage for repairs and they say 'I wouldn't drive that until its fixed as it's dangerous. Leave it here and we'll do it tomorrow'. Who's at fault if I ignore that advice, drive it away and have an accident due to mechanical failure?
If I take my car to the garage for repairs and they say 'I wouldn't drive that until its fixed as it's dangerous. Leave it here and we'll do it tomorrow'. Who's at fault if I ignore that advice, drive it away and have an accident due to mechanical failure? BertSS6

7:06pm Sun 16 Sep 12

al coniston says...

“They said there was nothing wrong, but he would have lived if they had done what I asked'

. . . . and he would probably lived had you done what the hospital had asked which was to stay in their care . . . but you discharged yourself !!

If you were that concerned about the welfare of your unborn child, you would have stayed in the hospital and aired your concerns, but you you chose to leave and, therefore, have cleared the hospital of any wrongdoing.

I am not sure about the wisdom of running to the press, although as she is pressing to put the blame on the hospital, it would be easy to guess why . . . but has been pointed out previously, she does not have a leg to stand on !
“They said there was nothing wrong, but he would have lived if they had done what I asked' . . . . and he would probably lived had you done what the hospital had asked which was to stay in their care . . . but you discharged yourself !! If you were that concerned about the welfare of your unborn child, you would have stayed in the hospital and aired your concerns, but you you chose to leave and, therefore, have cleared the hospital of any wrongdoing. I am not sure about the wisdom of running to the press, although as she is pressing to put the blame on the hospital, it would be easy to guess why . . . but has been pointed out previously, she does not have a leg to stand on ! al coniston

8:48pm Sun 16 Sep 12

whataday says...

Very sad You are not usually given a controlled drug for no reason. Its a shame Ms Garlick went against medical advice. Whatever the rights or wrongs of this case my sympathy goes out to her and her family The loss of a baby is a terrible thing to go through
Very sad You are not usually given a controlled drug for no reason. Its a shame Ms Garlick went against medical advice. Whatever the rights or wrongs of this case my sympathy goes out to her and her family The loss of a baby is a terrible thing to go through whataday

10:40pm Mon 17 Sep 12

Alec Cikes says...

It's quite sad to hear that this young woman decided to discharge herself from the hospital in such a condition having been advised by the Dr's to stay.

You have technically discharged all responsibility from the hospital.
It's quite sad to hear that this young woman decided to discharge herself from the hospital in such a condition having been advised by the Dr's to stay. You have technically discharged all responsibility from the hospital. Alec Cikes

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