Mum wants to change law after agony of suffering miscarriage on maternity ward

The young mum lost what would have been her second child last month and claims she was dismissed because legislation will not recognise her baby as a living being.

Lucinda gave birth on a maternity ward knowing her much-wanted baby was dead.

She had to listen to other mothers giving birth before hearing the cries of healthy babies and the celebrations of overjoyed parents.

Her heart was breaking already, knowing she would never get to meet the baby she believed to be a little girl, who she named Sarah.

And she says she is now determined to campaign for the rights of sufferers of miscarriage to have their children recognised in the eyes of the law and be treated with the dignity they deserve in hospitals when they gave birth.

"My baby died at 10 weeks three days, I just knew it, it is a mother's instinct but it was sadly confirmed at our 12-week scan. I had Covid and I was very unwell and I knew then that I had lost her," Lucinda told The Sunday World.

"I gave birth on the third of February at Belfast's Royal Victoria maternity ward and I walked out with nothing, not even a certificate to say my baby existed - it's a disgrace."

All Lucinda has is a framed picture of the 12-week scan.

"Women were giving birth all around me, it was awful, really traumatising. It was hard enough for me knowing that I was just going to give birth to tissues but after I had to walk through the maternity ward with my mask on, with tears streaming down my face.

"If I had been in another hospital like the Ulster I would have been put on to a gynaecology ward which is a more humane thing to do but it is all down to your postcode which is a disgrace - that should have nothing to do with it.

"I was already suffering - being put on a maternity ward just made it worse. I remember walking out of the hospital and there were heavily pregnant women standing in their dressing gowns and I was crying my eyes out because I had lost my baby. I remember thinking to myself, 'what is wrong with the world?' I was heartbroken, but I'm determined to do something about this."

The 35-year-old has nothing but praise for the NHS staff who attended her but she says hospitals need to brush up on how they deal with women suffering miscarriages and the government needs to recognise their rights.

"Sarah was never alive in the eyes of the law. If you are not above 24 weeks then apparently she doesn't count. The law is in line with the abortion laws but I was not aborting my baby - I had a miscarriage through no fault of my own.

"If I want a certificate to say I gave birth then it is my right to do so. If people don't want it then that should be their right too but no one should be able to tell you what to do in circumstances like that. Every mother has the right to have their child recognised if they want it."

Lucinda says her pain and frustration has been increased by the fact she will not be able to be there when her daughter's tissues are destroyed.

"I can't even be there or take what was Sarah for cremation because it is done with others. All I can do is wait for the email from the Belfast Trust to say it is done. It was my body, it is my tissue but I have no say."

The Co Down woman is in the process of setting up the Sarah Gladys Scott Foundation, which she hopes will help others just like her. "I have a ten-year plan, I want to build a retreat within that time where women suffering miscarriages can go. I have had so much response to my Facebook site since it was set up, I have spoken to many women who have felt as let down as me."

But not everyone shares Lucinda's views on the sad subject. She has been trolled since she has spoken out on a subject many people find taboo.

"I have even had police at the door after some faceless, fake person posted that I was a danger to my child which is just sick," she said.

"But I won't stop, if people don't like what I'm doing then they can jog on.

"I'm determined to do this, I will do it for Sarah Gladys and all the babies and their mothers who feel the same as me. The law must change."

The Belfast Trust said it "would like to extend sincere and heartfelt sympathy to Lucinda Scott and her family circle. Our maternity staff know that miscarriage brings grief and despair for parents, family and friends that can last a lifetime. Maternity staff have spoken with Lucinda to discuss what happened and offer support at this very sad time.

"The current maternity hospital does have a separate room for mothers who are experiencing a stillbirth. Regrettably, due to the construction of this small and somewhat older building, this room is on the labour ward.

"We understand that Lucinda feels that the location of this room has made her experience more upsetting and for this, we are very sorry.

"Belfast Trust's new maternity hospital will become operational early in 2023. The design of this larger more modern facility will enable staff to provide care for mothers in a more private area if they are experiencing miscarriage or stillbirth."

paula.mackin@sundayworld.com