Traumatic birth led to death of baby

A MOTHER claims a breakdown in communication may have led to the premature death of her new-born son.

Baby Mohammed Ibrahim was born by caesarean section on March 9 and despite being resuscitated and kept in an incubator, died the following day.

At an inquest in Heywood yesterday, pathologist Dr Philip Lumb and consultant paediatric pathologist Melanie Newbould said a head injury caused by a traumatic birth was the cause. There was bruising on baby Mohammed’s head, several fractures and bleeding on the brain.

Mum Naazma Ghafoor, of Hollinhall Street, Clarksfield and her aunt Rukeya Hussain, who accompanied her during labour, claimed neither doctors nor midwives discussed a birthing plan with them.

But midwife Debbie Bartholomew insisted the mother was told exactly what the plan of care was, and signed a consent form for forceps delivery and a caesarean if forceps proved ineffective.

Mrs Ghafoor was taken to theatre where she was given a spinal injection.

Suction cups then forceps were attempted and ineffective, followed by a caesarian section.

Miss Bartholomew said a C-section is performed as quickly as possible, though Mrs Ghafoor and Mrs Hussain both said the mood became “panicky”.

But Miss Bartholomew said she didn’t at any stage feel anything was going wrong.

She added: “The loss of Mohammed is a very sad one for the family. On that day we worked together to try to achieve the best possible outcome for Naazma and her family and her son.”

The inquest resumes today.