A Regina family is suffering extraordinary heartbreak after their newborn daughter died in the Mother Baby Centre at the Regina General Hospital.
Amanda Brass gave birth to Cambria Shuba on March 19th; she thought it was going to be the happiest day of her life.
“I was happy, best night of my life,” said Brass. “Gave birth and then you’re on that little cloud.”
The happiness was short lived. After the birth the Cambria’s father was assured everything was fine and went home for the night. All alone in their hospital room, Mom and baby slept in one bed. A scream woke her up, and shattered the new family’s world.
“I woke to a nurse screaming she’s not breathing, she’s not breathing,” said Brass.
Doctors would declare Cambria brain dead, and a coroner’s report has been launched to determine the exact cause of death. The family says the death could have been prevented if the hospital had more nurses in the ward, and a general nursery.
The Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region moved to a “rooming in” style of care in 2008 after Health Canada changed their policy. It eliminated general nurseries in maternity wards and kept newborn babies in the rooms with their mothers.
“The model of care may be sound, the philosophy that the babies stay with mom and bond is probably a good philosophy,” said Saskatchewan Union of Nurses President Rosalee Longmore. “But, the staffing and the resources to make that safe are crucial.”
The union says it does have concerns with the staffing levels. Currently the ward operates on a ratio of one nurse for every four mom and baby combinations, the same ratio used in hospitals in Saskatoon and Victoria, BC.
“Generally nurses will check on them frequently,” said Diane Larrivee, Vice President of Specialty Care with the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region. “A minimum would be hourly, but most often in the 1:4 model they’re checked on more regularly than that.”
For Brass, that isn’t good enough, and she would like to see a return to nurseries.
“At least twelve hour monitoring, because you never know what can happen,” said Brass. “And no parent should have to bury their child.”
Questions have also been raised about why Brass was allowed sleep with Cambria in her bed. There are no specific guidelines in place about mom’s holding their babies while sleeping, and those in the industry say they don’t have a problem with it.
“Usually they settle better,” said Angela Miki, a Regina birth doula. “Especially if you’re breast feeding, it might just be a matter of them latching on, not you having to move into a different space, so everybody usually would get a better night’s sleep.”
The death is prompting a review into the system to determine whether any improvements can be made, so families will never have to experience the tragic loss that Brass must now cope with.
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