Hi All,

I was told about this today, and I'm lying awake at this god awful time of night, and I figure there is a reason, so I'm going to post about it.
It is a frightening story, and people should be prepared to be shocked.

OK a friend of a friend had her baby in the last week in a fairly major hospital - like one where 4-8 babies are born a day. My friends sisters was the support person for this couple who are on the slower side mentally, but do understand instructions when they are clear and repeated.

After the birth of the baby, the midwife showed the new mum how to breastfeed the baby (the mother was in a lying back/semi reclined position), from what I understand the baby was left lying on top of the mum if that makes sense, and was left to it. My friends sister left for about 20mins to have a cigarette outside.

At some time during this first feed the baby was smothered accidentally by the mothers breast. When she returned from outside there was pandemonium with people running everywhere, and they were performing mouth to mouth on the baby. Apparently there was a pulse, but they estimate that the baby stopped breathing for up to 40mins.
Tests have shown that the baby has acid in the blood, and it is now in special care nursery. They have no idea at this time whether the baby suffered brain damage.

I dont want to start a public vs private debate, nor do I want to bag midwife care, but I had never, ever, ever heard of this happening before. I think that if the mother has made it through the birth, there is nothing wrong with the carer leaving mum and bubs alone for a little while to enjoy that first feed - providing it all looks like its going OK.
But I guess for a mentally slower person (still all there, just a bit slow) they didn't realise that the baby wasn't sleeping, it actually wasn't breathing. I didn't even know that this could happen with feeding as I thought bubs nostrils were shaped so that air came in the sides.

I just dont know what to think, and I feel so sorry for the family and the poor, poor midwife who had to deal with this situation. I shouldn't imagine this will be publicised - Do you guys think it should be?

Anyway - while I feel sick about telling you guys, I thought I should. Hopefully I can get some sleep now.

Fi