A MOTHER who lost her newborn baby after complications during labour told an inquest she was scared before she had an emergency caesarean section because nothing was happening quickly.

Jo Meeke and Matt Gurney’s son Puck died on March 16 last year after being taken to St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester the day before.

The couple, of Bosham, near Chichester, had planned for a home birth but went to the hospital over fears something was wrong.

They previously described having an “uncomplicated, dream pregnancy” before their son needed to be resuscitated.

He later died in their arms at Southampton University Hospital’s neo-natal unit.

Giving evidence at West Sussex Coroner’s Court in Crawley yesterday, Ms Meeke said: “I was in constant pain.”

She said she and her partner were left waiting at the desk when they arrived at St Richard’s despite ringing ahead.

They then waited nearly two hours before they were seen by a midwife at about midday.

She told the court no-one made her aware of concerns raised in the findings of a cardiotocography - a test used to check a foetal heartbeat.

The inquest heard concerns were raised of a potential abruption - where the placenta partially or completely separates from the uterus which could deprive the baby of oxygen and cause severe bleeding - and this was being monitored before a decision on how to proceed was made.

Just after 6.15pm, doctors decided to deliver the baby by emergency caesarean section.

Ms Meeke, 39, said: “I just remember the feeling of panic that nothing was happening.

“I just remember the panic, that things weren’t happening quickly and people weren’t arriving.

“It’s something that I have to live with for the rest of my life, wondering if it was my fault the way I wanted my ideal birth to be that action wasn’t taken when it should have been.”

Doctor Ibrahim Elshazly told the inquest he had told the parents he did not think it was safe to continue with a home birth and they should have a hospital delivery.

He said the plan was to continue monitoring the baby’s heartbeat and have a caesarean section at 6pm.

However if there were signs of improvement then they would progress with a natural birth.

The inquest, which is expected to last two days, continues.