Parents say daughter’s childbirth death could have been prevented

By Kaia Nicholl and Douglas Whitbread via SWNS

The parents of a mom who died after the birth of her second baby have blasted hospital failings - saying her death “could have been prevented.”

Jessica Mai Walden, 28, needed emergency surgery when her placenta would not deliver following the birth of her daughter at Ipswich Hospital.

She suffered extensive blood loss before later going into cardiac arrest during the tragic incident on May 9, 2021.

Doctors had performed a hysterectomy - a procedure to remove her womb - and she was taken to intensive care but sadly did not recover.

An independent report found Jessica, of Bramford, Suffolk, suffered a postpartum hemorrhage, which had led to her severe bleeding, and needed a transfusion.

However, it also showed the blood fridge in the theater was out of operation, which caused delays and may have altered the outcome for her.

Her parents Neil and Julie Stout also allege the phone in the theatre was not working, hindering the retrieval of blood from another part of the hospital.

The pair later launched legal action against the hospital trust but said they'd only just received a written apology - two years later.

They said: “We believe it could have been prevented and that is what we want people to know. She could be here with us now.

"It was only last week that we got an apology addressed to ourselves.

"We have been told that changes have been made and procedures are different now. We just hope it doesn't happen again to anyone else."

Julie, who lives with Neil in Purdis Farm, Suffolk, revealed her daughter had planned to have four children and said they still missed their daughter every day.

She said: "Nothing is the same for us ever again.

“Day-to-day life has changed. We think about her every minute of every day. We were so close and now Christmases, birthdays, everything has changed.

"She was the glue that held our family together, really.

“Everyone loved her, she had an infectious laugh and she had a lot of friends that really miss her and keep in contact with us to try and keep us going.

"It is like it is happening every morning. When you wake up it is happening again. You get up every morning and you think what is the point, what am I getting up for."

Dr. Angela Tillett, deputy chief executive at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, said they hoped to reach a settlement.

She said: "We are all deeply saddened by Jessica's tragic death and offer our sincere condolences to her family once again.

"We carried out a full and detailed review into what happened and have put in place all of the recommendations.

"There is an ongoing legal case and our lawyers are working with Jessica's family lawyers to reach a settlement as soon as possible."

Last Christmas, Julie and Neil lit up their home for a second year running in tribute to their daughter.

The Stouts also illuminated their home for Christmas in 2021, saying it would have been important to Jessica for them to continue this family tradition.

In 2022, they covered their home with over 28,000 lights – 8,000 more than they managed in 2021.

Friends and family gathered for a grand switch-on and all proceeds from the lights were donated to the St Elizabeth's Hospice, which cared for Jessica's grandparents.

After Jessica's death, tributes poured in from friends and family.

Close friend Lois Sefton-Etheridge said in 2021: "I do really feel she was beautiful inside and out.

"She literally was the kindest, caring, supportive, positive person who would reach out to anyone if they needed that support."