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A woman was so badly torn during childbirth, she has been left incontinent and must wear a colostomy bag for the rest of her life life.
Debbie Armstrong, 34, from Coventry, has been forced to undergo eight painful, but unsuccessful, operations to repair the damage caused by her botched labour in 2010.
However she was left so badly injured from her 'traumatic' ordeal that faeces was still escaping from her bowel three months after giving birth.
Debbie Armstrong, 34, from Coventry, shows her colostomy bag that she must now wear for life after suffering a fourth degree perineal tear during childbirth in September 2010
Debbie has spoken candidly about her ordeal in a bid to encourage other women, who have been injured during birth to come forward, without being ashamed.
And she has taken successful legal action against University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, over her nightmare labour at University Hospital, Coventry, in September 2010.
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The trust admitted liability and has apologised 'unreservedly,' admitting Debbie's injures would have been avoided if the positioning of her son Kaiden's head – believed to be in an unusual position – had been diagnosed earlier.
'I've really lost out as a mum,' said Debbie, opening up her injuries for the first time. 'I can't lift him up to play or pick him up for a cuddle. And my self confidence has really been hit too.
Debbie with newborn Kaiden, October 2010. The pair were kept in hospital for nine days after his birth – as Kaiden was premature, and so Debbie could be monitored after her surgery
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Kaiden's first day at school, September 2015. Kaiden is now six years old and Debbie, who has since split with his father, is still suffering the after-effects of her painful ordeal
'It's been devastating, and I can only hope that what has happened to me won't happen to anyone else in the future.'
Debbie had already experienced three miscarriages by the time Kaiden was conceived in 2009. As a result, she was desperate for her fourth pregnancy to be a positive experience.
'The whole time I was carrying Kaiden I was worried,' she recalled. 'I didn't buy anything for his nursery or any clothes until the day he was born, because I was so unsure if he would survive the pregnancy.'
On September 8, 2010, at 36 weeks pregnant, her waters broke where she works as a catering and events manager in Birmingham.
Kaiden as a newborn, late 2010. Debbie has spoken about her ordeal in a bid to encourage women, who have been injured during birth to come forward, without being ashamed
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Kaiden as a newborn, late 2010. Debbie said: ' I didn't buy anything for his nursery or any clothes until the day he was born, because I was so unsure if he would survive the pregnancy'
Debbie was collected at work by her father, Suky Singh, 54, who took her to hospital, where they were joined by her then partner.
At 2am on September 9, at 5cm centimetres dilated, Debbie went into labour.
With her mother Audrey Armstrong, 53, and Debbie's then-partner by her side, her contractions lasted for 12 hours. But Debbie says her labour became uncontrollable.
'I lost all power over the pushing,' she said. 'It was so scary. I felt like I wasn't in control of my own body.'
Forceps were eventually used to deliver Kaiden, who was healthy and weighed 6lbs 13oz.
via - Dailymail
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