‘Becky’ 27 Case Study

MRPMWoodman
March 17, 2026
0
8 min read

‘Becky’ 27 Case Study

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‘Becky’ 27 Case Study

Becky’s Routine Antenatal Care and Missed Abnormalities

Becky, aged 27 and pregnant with her first child, attended all scheduled antenatal appointments at a hospital trust in the north of England. During the anomaly scan at 20 weeks the sonographer noted a possible abnormality in the baby’s heart but recorded it as “suspected small ventricular septal defect (VSD)” and advised follow-up growth scans only. No referral to fetal cardiology was made at that stage.

Over the following weeks Becky repeatedly raised concerns about reduced fetal movements and slower-than-expected growth. Midwives measured fundal height and performed handheld Doppler but did not arrange formal ultrasound growth assessment or fetal cardiology review. Medical negligence began here: the combination of a suspected cardiac anomaly on the 20-week scan and persistent reduced movements should have prompted urgent specialist referral rather than routine monitoring.

At 36 weeks a growth scan was finally performed and showed the baby was below the 10th centile with abnormal umbilical artery Doppler (raised pulsatility index). These findings indicate placental insufficiency and fetal compromise, yet no immediate action was taken to plan delivery or admit Becky for monitoring. Medical negligence in failing to recognise and respond to these high-risk features allowed the baby to remain in a deteriorating intrauterine environment.

Stillbirth and Preventable Outcome

Two days after the 36-week scan Becky attended hospital reporting no fetal movements for over 12 hours. CTG showed no fetal heart activity. Ultrasound confirmed intrauterine fetal death. The stillbirth was later attributed to placental insufficiency and cord compression that had been developing over weeks. Medical negligence in failing to expedite delivery when growth restriction and abnormal Doppler were identified meant the baby was not given the chance of survival outside the womb.

Post-mortem examination confirmed a well-grown baby with no structural abnormalities apart from the suspected small VSD noted earlier. Expert evidence obtained during the clinical negligence claim concluded that earlier fetal cardiology referral after the 20-week scan, combined with timely delivery at the first sign of growth restriction and abnormal Doppler, would almost certainly have resulted in a live birth.

The hospital trust eventually admitted full liability for medical negligence. The repeated failure to investigate concerns, refer appropriately and act on abnormal scan findings constituted medical negligence that directly caused the stillbirth of Becky’s first child.

Categories: Medical Negligence, Stillbirth, Maternity Safety, Fetal Monitoring Failure

Keywords: stillbirth medical negligence, reduced fetal movements failure, antenatal scan delay, placental insufficiency negligence, preventable stillbirth claim, maternity negligence settlement, fetal growth restriction missed

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Settlement Secured and Trust’s Acknowledgment

Becky instructed specialist medical negligence solicitors to investigate the antenatal care provided. Independent experts — consultant obstetricians and fetal medicine specialists — unanimously concluded that medical negligence had occurred. Proper investigation of reduced movements and timely delivery after abnormal Doppler findings would almost certainly have prevented the stillbirth.

The hospital trust admitted full liability for medical negligence. The experts agreed that adherence to national guidelines on antenatal monitoring, reduced fetal movements and fetal growth restriction would have resulted in a live birth. The trust accepted that medical negligence in antenatal care directly caused the preventable stillbirth of Becky’s daughter.

A substantial settlement was agreed to compensate Becky for the profound grief, psychological injury, bereavement damages and the loss of the parent-child relationship she was denied due to medical negligence. The award also recognises the long-term emotional impact on her mental health and future family planning after the stillbirth.

Emotional and Psychological Impact on Becky

Becky now lives with lifelong grief and post-traumatic stress disorder following the stillbirth caused by medical negligence. She experiences flashbacks to the moment she was told there was no heartbeat, profound guilt despite knowing the fault lay with the care provided, and severe anxiety about any future pregnancies.

The settlement provides funding for ongoing psychological therapy, counselling and support groups. However, Becky emphasises that no financial award can replace the daughter she lost to preventable medical negligence or remove the deep sense of injustice and betrayal she feels after trusting the maternity service with her first pregnancy.

Becky has chosen to speak out about her experience to raise awareness of reduced fetal movements and abnormal Doppler findings as critical warning signs. She urges pregnant women to insist on immediate investigation if movements decrease, and hopes her case drives change so medical negligence no longer results in preventable stillbirths.

Lessons from the Preventable Stillbirth

The case demonstrates that reduced fetal movements and abnormal growth/Doppler findings are genuine emergencies in late pregnancy. Medical negligence occurs far too often when these signs are dismissed or not escalated with sufficient urgency. National guidelines (Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, NHS Saving Babies’ Lives Care Bundle) require immediate investigation and consideration of delivery when movements are significantly reduced or Doppler becomes abnormal.

Becky’s experience highlights the need for mandatory training on reduced fetal movements and fetal growth restriction for all maternity staff, clear patient information leaflets, and a low threshold for admission and monitoring when concerns are raised. Medical negligence can be prevented through consistent application of these evidence-based protocols.

Patient safety organisations continue to campaign for better implementation of fetal movement awareness campaigns and rapid-access pathways. Medical negligence in failing to act on reduced movements or abnormal Doppler can turn a healthy pregnancy into a tragic stillbirth — a preventable outcome with proper vigilance and response.

Support and Advice for Bereaved Parents

If you have experienced a stillbirth or neonatal death and believe medical negligence may have played a role, early specialist legal advice is essential. Time limits apply (usually three years from the date of death or awareness of medical negligence), but acting promptly preserves evidence and allows access to support services.

Specialist medical negligence solicitors assess cases on a No-Win-No-Fee basis after initial review. They instruct leading obstetricians, fetal medicine specialists and pathologists to prove medical negligence and secure maximum compensation for bereavement, psychological injury and financial losses after preventable stillbirth.

Becky’s story serves as a powerful reminder that reduced fetal movements must always be treated as a red-flag symptom. Medical negligence in failing to investigate promptly can have catastrophic consequences. Urgent CTG monitoring, ultrasound assessment and consideration of delivery remain the key to preventing avoidable stillbirths.

Categories: Medical Negligence, Stillbirth, Maternity Safety, Fetal Monitoring Failure

Keywords: stillbirth medical negligence, reduced fetal movements failure, maternity negligence claim, preventable stillbirth, CTG monitoring negligence, placental insufficiency delay, NHS maternity failings

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Medical Negligence

Medical negligence, also known as clinical negligence (particularly in the UK), occurs when a healthcare professional provides substandard care that falls below the reasonable standard expected of a competent practitioner in similar circumstances, directly causing harm or injury to a patient.To succeed in a claim, four key elements (often referred to as the “4 Ds”) must typically be proven:

Duty of care — A doctor-patient or similar professional relationship existed, establishing that the healthcare provider owed the patient a duty to provide competent treatment.
Breach of duty (or deviation from the standard of care) — The care provided was negligent, meaning it did not meet the accepted professional standards. This is assessed objectively, often with input from independent medical experts, rather than requiring “gold standard” treatment.
Causation — The breach directly caused (or significantly contributed to) the patient’s injury or worsened condition. The harm must be more likely than not attributable to the substandard care.
Damage — The patient suffered actual harm, which may include physical injury, psychological distress, financial loss, additional medical needs, or reduced quality of life.

Common examples include misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, surgical errors, incorrect medication, failure to obtain informed consent, or inadequate aftercare. Not every poor outcome or medical mistake constitutes negligence—only those deviating from reasonable professional standards and causing avoidable harm qualify.In the UK, claims are pursued through the civil justice system, often against the NHS or private providers, with the goal of securing compensation to address losses and support recovery. Medical negligence cases can be complex, requiring expert evidence and strict time limits for claims.

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