Nottingham mother left in coma after planned Caesarean prompts NHS maternity review

An East Midlands woman who went into hospital for a planned Caesarean section and ended up in a coma for four days remains traumatised by her experience. Amie, 35, from Bestwood Park in Nottingham, suffered internal bleeding during the Caesarean at Nottingham City Hospital on 26 August 2024. She says her deteriorating condition was not identified promptly, and she was able to see her newborn son Reggie for about 10 minutes before slipping into a coma.

The birth was brought forward from 15 October 2024 because of rising blood pressure, resulting in Reggie being born two months early. Medics later attributed the bleeding to blunt trauma when the bladder was pushed from the womb. Amie says she felt unwell after the operation, experiencing faintness and low blood pressure, and a note from clinicians said the bleeding into the abdomen may have been identifiable sooner if consultants and anaesthetists had been involved earlier. Early the next morning, around 08:00 BST, she became unresponsive and required emergency surgery, during which she lost more than three litres of blood. She recalls nothing of the immediate hours after the operation until she woke from the coma.

It is a case that sits within the broader national focus on maternity safety as part of the independent maternity review into Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. Amie says she has heard that her case is among those being explored, but she has not heard updates for some time and says she no longer trusts the hospital.

After the second paragraph, an image showing Amie and her son is included to provide context for readers:

The baby’s health problems have been significant. Reggie was born with oesophageal atresia and skeletal dysplasia, and he will require ongoing medical attention, including surgeries that have already cost him a six-hour operation on his oesophagus and multiple other procedures. He has had a birth-related hernia, a heart hole, missing kneecaps, and limb differences that have led to complex care needs. Amie says the medical journey for Reggie has been extensive, but the family remains hopeful about his progress.

Amie’s account is one of about 2,500 cases under review as part of the independent Maternity Review into Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. The review, led by senior midwife Donna Ockenden, was prompted by reports of baby injuries and deaths at the trust. The review has closed to new cases, and Ms. Ockenden is expected to publish findings in June 2026. Amie says she was told her case was being explored, but she has not heard further updates and feels the experience has eroded her trust in the hospital.

In a statement, Tracy Pilcher, the trust’s chief nurse, acknowledged the impact on Amie and her family and said that earlier review of her care could have identified complications sooner. Pilcher added that a full review of Amie’s care has already taken place and that learnings from both the internal review and the Independent Maternity Review (IMR) are crucial for improving services. The hospital said it appreciates input from patients who have shared their experiences as part of the IMR process and that it is committed to translating those findings into safer care for others.

The scale of the IMR at NUH reflects growing scrutiny of maternity safety across the NHS. While the final IMR report is not due until mid-2026, NHS leaders have said the review’s findings will drive changes across hospitals to prevent similar cases. Amie’s story, while deeply personal, illustrates the human stakes behind the national effort to examine and improve maternity care practices, monitoring, and emergency response protocols that can determine life-and-death outcomes for mothers and babies.

The Nottingham case is part of a broader health landscape in which patient safety data, staffing levels, and timely access to obstetric care remain central concerns for NHS trusts nationwide. Advocates for safer maternity care emphasize transparent reporting, prompt escalation of warning signs, and consistent involvement of senior clinicians in complex deliveries to prevent delays in recognizing life-threatening bleeding or other complications. The IMR’s forthcoming findings are expected to provide detailed recommendations for Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and potentially influence practices at other trusts facing similar patient-safety challenges.

[Additional image to illustrate the ongoing conversation about patient experiences in maternity care is placed near the end of the piece.]