Queensland woman Rebecca Spreadborough had a trouble-free pregnancy after conceiving baby Alby through assisted fertility. However, her experience turned traumatic on February 5, the day before Alby was born. Rebecca’s waters broke, but a midwife at Emerald Hospital dismissed her concerns, claiming she had just urinated. Rebecca labored overnight at home before going to the hospital the next day. The labor initially progressed well, but eventually, complications arose. Rebecca had meconium in her amniotic fluid, signs of fetal distress, and a stalled labor. She decided to have a cesarean section despite her initial wish for a vaginal birth. Tragically, baby Alby did not survive the birth, and the cause of death was identified as Bandl’s ring.
Rebecca and her husband Tim express their difficulty in dealing with their unimaginable grief, which has been further complicated by the hospital’s response. They received no communication from the hospital for 11 weeks and were only provided with an internal report admitting some mistakes. Feeling unsupported and neglected, they are now demanding an independent external review into the hospital’s handling of Rebecca’s birth experience. Local state MP Lachlan Millar supports their call for transparency and expresses concern over the hospital’s lack of acknowledgement and respect for the severity of the case.
The Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service has responded, stating that they have conducted a comprehensive review by both internal and external experts. They are also communicating with the family to address their concerns and have referred the matter to the coroner.