Medical Negligence Experts Join Mother In Supporting Baby Loss Awareness Week

A Putney mum left ‘heartbroken’ after her son was stillborn is speaking out on her loss as she supports a national awareness campaign.

Carolina Vicente fell pregnant for the third time in June 2023.  Around a month later, she began to complain of mild lower abdominal discomfort. She attended her GP who reassured her. Another month passed and she began experiencing flu like symptoms. As she was less than 16 weeks pregnant, she was advised by midwives to see her GP.

Mum contacts GP surgery with pregnancy concerns

Over the next three months, Carolina, who had suffered a miscarriage in the past, contacted her GP surgery several times as she was worried about her pregnancy. No examination was undertaken.

Carolina, 42, was administered antibiotics at 11 weeks gestation for a suspected urinary infection, however she continued to have symptoms after the medication was finished. Test results later confirmed she did not have a urinary infection but again no referral for further investigation was made.

At around 18 weeks pregnant, Carolina’s waters suddenly broke.  She was admitted to hospital for two weeks.  On 25 October, her baby boy Valentino was stillborn.

Forty-two-year-old diagnosed with bacterial infection three months after stillbirth

By the following January, Carolina was still suffering from symptoms indicative of an infection.  She was subsequently diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis (BV) and prescribed different antibiotics.

In February, she was informed by the hospital that Valentino’s post-mortem examination results didn’t show anything regarding his cause of death.

Carolina and her husband Abel Silva Maza, have now instructed expert medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate their son’s death and help them access the specialist support they require.  It comes after they were referred to the law firm by Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA), a UK charity for patient safety.

Couple speak out on loss

They’re also using Baby Loss Awareness Week to speak for the first time about their loss.

Rosie Teagle is a specialist medical negligence lawyer representing the couple.

Expert Opinion

“This is a truly tragic case with Carolina and Abel left devastated at losing their baby boy so suddenly and unexpectedly.

“What should have been a happy time for the family ended in heartache, and they have a number of concerns and questions over the events that unfolded prior to Valentino’s death.

“While nothing can ever make up for their loss and what they’ve been through, we’re determined to provide Carolina and Abel with the answers they deserve and will continue to support them at this distressing time.” Rosie Teagle

Baby Loss Awareness Week: Carolina's story

Carolina and Abel are originally from Argentina so, due to having no family here, Carolina spent a lot of her time in hospital alone due to Abel looking after their three-year-old daughter.

Since losing Valentino, the couple have undergone counselling sessions via AvMA.  Carolina is also still being treated for BV.

Carolina said: “It’s almost one year since we lost Valentino and it’s almost impossible to find the words to describe the ongoing pain and grief.

“We were overjoyed to be expecting again and couldn’t wait to welcome our baby boy into the world.  But he was taken away from us in the most traumatic of circumstances.

“I knew something wasn’t right for a while, but I was reassured that everything was fine.  Then he was gone.  It was the worst days of my life and I have so many questions that need answering.

“To this day, I’m still struggling with everything that happened.  It’s difficult not to think that we should be a family of four now. It’s incredibly difficult to come to terms with Valentino not being here growing up alongside his sister.

“We’d do anything to bring our boy back but we know that’s not possible.  I just hope that by speaking out, I can make others aware there’s help and support out there.”

Support available

Baby Loss Awareness Week runs between 9-15 October. Find out more

Find out more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in supporting families affected by maternity care issues at our dedicated birth injuries section. Alternatively, to speak to an expert contact us or call 0370 1500 100.