17 Feb 2014

Family highly critical of midwife

9:53 pm on 17 February 2014

The family of a Waikato woman and her newborn baby who both died nearly two years ago has criticised the care given by their midwife.

Casey Nathan, who was 20, died six hours after giving birth and her son Kymani died two days later.

An inquest into their deaths opened in Hamilton on Monday.

Kymani was born at the Huntly Birthing Centre but both he and his mother were transferred to Waikato Hospital when serious complications arose.

A family spokesperson outlined to the inquest concerns they have about what happened, including poor care before and after birth, a prolonged labour, inadequate monitoring of mother and baby and incomplete documentation.

Kymani was born at the Huntly Birthing Centre but both he and his mother were transferred to Waikato Hospital when serious complications arose.

Family spokesperson Jenn Hooper told the inquest the blame lay with the lead maternity carer (LMC), who has name suppression.

"It is our view, and that of the ambulance staff, that evidently at no stage was the LMC on top of Casey's catastrophic deterioration," Ms Hooper said.

Coroner Garry Evans reminded the court that the family's concerns were only opinion and not evidence.

The inquest will hear from 23 witnesses during the next week.