Kajal Da Silva, a mother who required 300 stitches after a traumatic birth, appeared on ITV's Good Morning Britain to share her story. She described how the experience has left her with lifelong physical and psychological pain, six years after giving birth to her son.
Government announces first maternity and neonatal commissioner
The interview came after the UK government announced the appointment of the country's first ever maternity and neonatal commissioner. This move followed a review that concluded there had been repeated failures and avoidable harm to women, babies, and families.
Host Kate Garraway introduced Kajal's story as a "terrible tale," noting that six years after giving birth, the mother continues to suffer. Co-host Ed Balls added that Kajal's son was "pronounced dead at birth before being resuscitated during a traumatic birth episode which left her needing 300 stitches."
'It ruins your whole life for the rest of your life'
"I think what people don't realise is that you know, it ruins your whole life for the rest of your life," said Kajal. "You live with lifelong pain, you can't stand for long, you can't sit for long, you can't walk for long, you've got endless medical appointments and you're gas lit by professionals. Families don't, your family don't understand, friends don't understand, you lose friends.
"There's such a huge impact on your life that I think people kind of underestimate and NHS professionals underestimate."
She described being dismissed by medical staff: "You go to appointments and you're like, 'I'm feeling this way' or 'I feel like this is happening for me' and like, 'No, you know, are you sure you're not imagining it? Are you sure that's happening?'"
Details of the traumatic birth
Kajal recounted the birth of her son, explaining that she knew labour was not progressing. She was told the baby had passed meconium and swallowed it, which is serious. His heart rate was increasing, but she was told she would be checked in three hours. After begging, she was checked and found to be fully dilated.
"By that point his heart rate was so high that they were like, we'll give you 20 minutes to push him out," she said. Eventually, she had an extended episiotomy. When his head emerged, he was not breathing, and doctors said they had two minutes to save his life.
Kajal underwent a McRoberts procedure because the baby was stuck. "Part of that procedure is someone senior kind of, really puts their whole arm inside me, and then kind of does a manoeuvre on his shoulder... and then twists his arm and toss him out, and they do that to save his life."
Her son was born with Erb's palsy, leaving his left arm paralysed at birth, and he was referred to physiotherapy. Kajal said the experience left her severely depressed in the early days.
Call for reform
Kajal is now calling for reform of the maternity neonatal system, saying it needs "big changes." She added, "There can't be incremental kind of improvements."
Good Morning Britain airs on ITV from 6am.
