A HOSPITAL has begun an investigation after a young mother said staff missed warning signs that may have led to the loss of her baby.

Louise Davies’ son, Callum, was stillborn last year after she suffered difficulties in the later stages of her pregnancy.

The 28-year-old, from Darlington, has since suffered a nervous breakdown and is to take legal action against Darlington Memorial Hospital.

Ms Davies said: “Nothing could bring Callum back, but it was an incredibly traumatic experience and one that I am still struggling to come to terms with.

“I now want people to know what happened to try and stop it happening to someone else, and I want answers from the hospital.

“When I was told Callum had died, I was devastated and could not take in what they were telling me. I feel like I have been living in a bubble.”

Ms Davies said she visited the hospital to complain of abdominal pains, but said she was told to go home and return two days later for a scan.

She said that when she returned, the scan did not take place, and that she was sent home after a check-up.

She said that when she contacted the hospital again the next day to complain that her baby had stopped moving, she was told to take a bath.

When that failed to have any effect, she returned to hospital for another checkup.

She says a nurse told her the baby’s heartbeat was fine, but a doctor confirmed that he was dead after a second checkup.

Ms Davies and her partner, Paul Parkinson, believe she should have received better treatment after she endured a difficult pregnancy with her first child, who was born prematurely at 35 weeks.

A hospital spokesman confirmed last night that an investigation into the death will take place.

He said: “The trust has received notification of a claim in relation to this case which will be subject to investigation.

“At this time it would, therefore, be inappropriate for the trust to comment any further.”

Post-mortem examinations revealed that Callum had been starved of oxygen and had an unusual attachment of the umbilical cord that may have led to a hole in the placenta.

Ms Davies said: “I have not been able to grieve for Callum and I have not come to terms with what has happened to my son.

“I cannot help but ask questions about what could have been done differently.”