Kouper, Harriet and Billy: Children of the Nottingham Maternity Scandal
These parents shared with us their birthing stories and experience at the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
Last updated 5 hours ago
Kouper, Harriet, and Billy. These are the names of three babies born at Nottingham City Hospital, who are amongst thousands who are at the centre of the largest maternity review in NHS history.
Their parents have been sharing with us their birthing stories and experience at the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.
It comes as the Ockenden Maternity Review, is set to publish its findings at the end of the month.
Warning: This article contains topics of baby loss, infant death and stillbirth, which some readers may find troubling. You can find links for support at the bottom of this page.
The families of Kouper, Harriet and Billy want to see changes to maternity care, making it better for any expectant parents across Nottingham, and the rest of the country. With the wish no one has to suffer like they have.
You can listen to their accounts here.
Kouper
While at home, David and Natalie Needham spoke of how they find comfort in keepsakes that remind them of their son, Kouper.
"That's a lock of his hair, a hospital band, and that's his first outfit,” David Needham said.
“It’s hard sometimes looking at it.”
Natalie Needham shared, “It's just that sense of comfort of it's my way of always having him here."
Reflecting on their preparations for his arrival, David remembered, “I think it was the first time we've actually been pre-prepared and we got the other kids involved, decorated the bedroom.”
Natalie added, “They went and picked his first outfit for him together and helped us pick the colours in the room and decorating and stuff.”
Kouper was born in July of 2019, but Natalie says she knew something wasn't right.
“We had to ask for him to be weighed, they hadn't even checked he was a boy, he didn't cry, didn't make a sound. He never opened his eyes."
That evening, Natalie and David were at home with their son, but still had concerns over his lack of movement and feeding.
"We made the decision that the midwife was coming out the next morning. We never made it that far”
David added that he feels guilt for the unexpected passing: “I'll probably always blame myself for the fact that I thought I was doing the best thing... I laid him down because he was fine, and then I woke up in the morning and he was dead.”
Harriet
The arrival of baby Harriet was a moment Sarah and Jack Hawkins had eagerly anticipated.
Sarah reflected, "I was excited but I was scared at the same time because all I'd known really was to work. My whole career and life were dedicated to the NHS so I was a little bit nervous about anything outside of that."
Jack shared similar sentiments, “I do remember being, I guess, pretty nervous and excited.”
The couple's carefully made plans, including finding out the gender of their baby at birth, were thrown into disarray when Sarah went into Labour in April 2016:
"I'd phoned up the midwife and that was the most horrific phone call of my life. I remember standing, just crying, asking for help, and she told me that she was adamant that I wasn't in established labour and just to stay at home."
After 6 days of labour, Sarah was in the hospital, she remembers "The midwife tried to take Harriet's heartbeat. She couldn't find it so she called for help and then, the doctor said, 'I'm sorry your baby's dead'. Just like that"
Jack recalls, "The change from expectation, nervousness, excitement of about to have a baby. I mean, it was just an awful time, wasn't it?"
"I can remember standing with you, kind of, rocking and then holding Harriet and she was still warm-ish... I'd have done anything for her to be alive.”
The Hawkins have ever since advocated and fought for improvements to maternity care and for clarity and candour from Hospital Trusts.
“The years and years of trying to fight to get some answers have been just as traumatic as being told she was dead,” Sarah remarked.
Jack added, “We don't believe that we are anywhere near justice, and I want justice for my dead daughter."
Billy
Michelle Welsh, the Sherwood Forest MP, experienced her own traumatic childbirth when delivering her son Billy at Nottingham City Hospital.
Recalling her treatment, Michelle described it as "appalling from the way that I was spoken to, the way that I was treated, and the way that I was left in pain."
Despite the stressful experience, Michelle felt guilt initially:
“I started my real journey into motherhood feeling like I'd failed my son when actually in reality it was them that were failing me.”
Explaining the lasting impact of her hospital experience, Michelle tearfully shared, “Every single milestone that I have with my son is tinged with sadness as well because all of that trauma comes up again and it comes to the surface.”
Reflecting on her son Billy’s existence, she said, “He hadn't died, he was here, I could hold him. But no woman should have to leave a hospital feeling lucky or grateful. They should get the care that they need with compassion.”
The Ockenden Maternity Review was established by NHS England in May 2022, following significant concerns raised regarding the quality and safety of maternity services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and concerns of local families.
Anthony May, the Chief Executive at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust shared with us:
“I want to pay tribute to the bravery of the many families who have worked tirelessly to get answers and to make maternity services safer for others. They have campaigned tirelessly and deserve a great deal of credit for what they have done to improve maternity safety. I have met some of the affected families, and they have shared their painful and life-changing experiences with me, for which I am very grateful. I am very sorry for the pain and suffering these families have endured.
It is from my conversations with affected families that I understand how important and significant this period is for them, as they await the outcome of Donna Ockenden’s review. I hope they receive the answers they have been waiting so long for."
"I want to extend thanks to Donna Ockenden, who has offered us vital feedback throughout the review, helping us to make ongoing improvements to our maternity services. Our staff have shown their commitment to change, and we are building the right culture and environment to enable them to offer the care that they aspire to, and that local women and families deserve."
“Upon receiving the findings of the review, we will consider carefully what we need to do next to ensure that we learn from what happened in the past and to continue to improve maternity services.”
In this programme, the parents of Kouper, Harriet and Billy tell their babies’ stories in their own words - from their hopes for the future, through their experiences of pregnancy and birth, and their ongoing fight for safer maternity care.
Some of the families in this piece have spoken positively about the help they received from the charity Sands. They support anyone affected by pregnancy or baby loss: www.sands.org.uk
Mental health support is available through the Samaritans: www.samaritans.org