'I WAS BEGGING FOR HELP'
30/3/2017 The Sun
A BABY boy born two weeks before the abortion limit fought to live for almost an hour, before he passed away, his mum claims.
His devastated mum said she was forced to watch him slip away, as doctors told her medical intervention was not in his best interests. Tiny Kian-John passed away in his mum Carlie Underhill’s arms after 44 minutes.
The heartbroken mum is now demanding answers, questioning why medics did not intervene to save her little boy. Expert guidelines state resuscitation is not advised in babies born before 26 weeks, in the interests of the baby. The guidelines are based on the fact a baby that small does not have lungs or other vital organs developed enough to sustain their life.
Carlie, 23, said: “When Kian-John was first born and I found out he was alive I was so elated. It was unexpected, and I thought he had a chance, and that they would help me. He was breathing and kicking around. It was a massive relief.”
But, when doctors and midwives told Carlie there was nothing they could do for her newborn son her “world fell apart”.
“I was completely devastated,” she said. “I was crying and sobbing and begging for them to help. It’s so frustrating and sad, I felt so helpless.”
Baby Kian-John arrived at just 22 weeks weighing just over 7oz, and was just 10 inches from head to toe.
Mum Carlie said he was kicking, moving and breathing. But she claims despite her pleas for help medics did not intervene to help Kian-John.
“It seemed incredibly heartless,” she said. “She just stood there and did nothing.”
She is now arguing for a change in the guidelines, to stop other parents going through the ordeal she endured.
“If they had fought for my baby, I could have had closure,” she added. "I don’t want another mum to have to go through that.”