Despite being told to go home for a few days, Beth insisted on returning the next day to deliver her still-born son by C-section.
The couples who had met at the golf course had set up a WhatsApp group and, a few days later, Beth and Tom messaged the group informing them of Felix’s death.
“They sent a photo of them holding his hand,” recalls Sophie. “I cried for them. I actually had to delete the post because I just couldn’t look at it anymore.”
In February 2023, when she was almost 42 weeks pregnant, Sophie discharged a dark substance which she thought was meconium, a baby’s first stool. It can lead to breathing difficulties for a baby if it is passed before birth.
Sophie says she called the Princess Royal Hospital “at least 30 times” before someone answered. She was invited in and says that a midwife undertook a well-being check on her but didn’t monitor her baby. She was then sent home.
By 02:30 the next morning, Sophie had gone into labour with regular contractions and was struggling to cope.
Once more she called the Princess Royal. She says a midwife told her: “You sound like you’re doing well. We advise you to stay home as long as possible.”
Sophie dozed off and woke up about 07:00 and was immediately concerned about a lack of movement. This time, she called the hospital and said she was coming in.
After several delays, staff tried unsuccessfully to find Felix’s heartbeat. Sophie was given a general anaesthetic and Felix was delivered by emergency C-section. He wasn’t breathing, however. Staff struggled to resuscitate him and Felix died the following day.
