A Sydney couple have recalled the terrifying moment they were forced to deliver their own baby due to hospital staff shortages.
Speaking at an inquest into the death of their daughter, Sam Amone and his wife Sharon detailed repeated efforts to gain the attention of medical staff when their baby was born with the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck at Fairfield Hospital on November 25.
“He was pressing the buzzer, no one came,” Mrs Amone tearfully told Glebe Coroners Court on Monday.
Mr Amone, who delivered evidence via telephone link, said that with the baby born he ran out into the hallway to sound the alarm. A registrar arrived to the birthing suite some two minutes later to remove the umbilical cord, but the father-of-three said it felt like “an age.”
“As soon as she had the baby I just ran outside and just screamed for someone to come,” he said.
The court heard the nurse was able to induce breathing by slapping the baby on the backside. It wasn’t long, however, before Mr Amone realised something was amiss.
“Her breathing seemed short, as if she was gasping for air,” he said, his voice cracking.
The baby — Manusiu Amone — was taken to to the special care unit where resuscitation efforts continued for some time, but tragically she could not be saved.
Mr and Mrs Amone are pictured at their daughter’s grave. (Image via Facebook / Sharon Tanya Kavapalu Amone).
An autopsy report has since revealed the baby’s death was likely caused by “the toxic effects” of the drug Pethidine.
Mrs Amone was given 150 milligrams of the painkiller shortly before the baby’s birth, which was described in court as an excessive dose during advanced labour by an expert medical witness.
A lawyer representing South Western Sydney Local Health District, acknowledged “aspects of the [Amone family’s] care were deficient.”
Staffing, workloads and rostering at the hospital will all be investigated during the inquest.
