Independent midwives need guidelines, expert tells inquest

INDEPENDENT midwives who take on difficult cases were highlighted yesterday by the Master of Dublin’s Rotunda maternity hospital.

Dr Michael Geary was giving evidence to Dublin City Coroner’s Court in the inquest on a baby, stillborn at the Rotunda in early December 2005.

He called for guidelines on independent midwifery practice.

The baby boy — whose estimated date of delivery was November 13 — died in the womb from lack of oxygen.

Rotunda consultant Dr John Gillan carried out a post mortem that revealed a malfunction of the placenta.

The infant’s mother, Mrs Tanya Long of North Strand, Dublin, planned to have her baby at home but didn’t tell the hospital, where she attended ante-natal services.

Scans had indicated the pregnancy was progressing normally.

Mrs Long, then aged 36, had childhood rheumatic fever, but not tell the hospital either.

According to Dr Geary the woman’s medical history would indicate something between a low-risk and high-risk pregnancy.

The hospital heard nothing from Mrs Long from her 24th week of pregnancy until December 1, 2005 when she was admitted to hospital, where a midwife could get no foetal heartbeat.

Her baby was stillborn, was well-nourished and weighed 4.6 kilograms.

Ross Maguire, the lawyer representing midwife Catherine Spillane, requested an adjournment and indicated independent medical evidence would be given.

Extending his good wishes to Mrs Long, now six months pregnant, Coroner Dr Brian Farrell said: “I am so delighted there is another baby on the way.”