A first-time mum was having contractions when an inexperienced midwife sent her home – forcing her to give birth to her child in a toilet.
Sophie Holmes, 28, was allegedly told her baby couldn’t possibly be coming two weeks early because her cervix was still closed, and that she should go home and have a hot bath.
An hour after she got back home in Essex, England, she was sitting on the toilet (where she felt most comfortable).
Then she looked down to see her baby’s head. Sophie quickly stood up and caught her newborn.
“The next thing I know my baby fell out and I managed to catch it within seconds,” she said.
“I’m just grateful I saved her, but furious at the hospital.”
“I had to have my baby alone in the bathroom and it could have gone down the toilet.”
Despite the location of the birth, baby Olivia was born healthy and well.
Sophie and her partner of 10 years, Dan, have now issued a formal complaint with Southend University Hospital.
“We shudder at the thought of what could have happened if I hadn’t caught her,” Sophie said.
“My baby was born in our bathroom, which is just ridiculous.”
The hospital has apologised and are investigating the case.
Denise Townsend, associate chief nurse at Southend University Hospital, said: “We are meeting with Ms Holmes so that we can discuss the concerns she has about the care she received during and after her labour and investigate accordingly.”
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