Joy for Alanna and Glynn as they welcome home baby Maison

Nov 23 2009 by Anne-Marie Senior, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Joy for Alanna and Glynn as they welcome home baby Maison

Their first baby Maisie died after last-minute complications with the pregnancy. Alanna, 23, had been due to give birth at the Huddersfield Birth Centre, but had to be taken to Calderdale when late tests revealed Maisie’s heart rate was dangerously low.

The little girl survived the birth but was severely brain damaged because the oxygen supply to her brain had been cut off as a result of her umbilical cord being tightly wrapped around her.

Alanna and Glynn took the heartbreaking decision to take her off life support.

They believe she would have survived if Alanna had been able to go to HRI to give birth and launched the MOMS campaign to put pressure on Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust to return consultant-led services to Huddersfield.

Now the couple have vowed to continue their fight, despite praising the care they received during Maison’s birth and pregnancy.

Alanna added: “The staff there were fantastic and we would we like to thank them all, especially Shona Hamilton our consultant, who looked after us all the way through and delivered Maison to make sure he got here safe and sound.

“She really helped to keep us sane throughout the pregnancy and we cannot thank her enough.

“Although the team are fantastic we do still feel they are in the wrong place and the hospital is too far away.

“It was also a pain for Glynn to get there and back everyday by bus and for other family members.”