A heartbroken mother has revealed that her newborn daughter died just days after she was allegedly told by hospital staff that her severe pain was caused by trapped wind. Kimberley Newark, 32, attended Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, on 14 September 2024, while 34 weeks pregnant, complaining of fainting, weakness, dizziness and excruciating pain.
She claims maternity staff attributed her symptoms to trapped wind and administered Buscopan alongside pain relief and IV fluids. However, her pain did not subside, and it later emerged she was bleeding internally after a major blood vessel near her stomach had ruptured, causing catastrophic blood loss of approximately 14 litres. Her partner, Yann Trupiano, was told to go home and return the following day, but shortly after he left, doctors performed an emergency caesarean section.
Baby Olivia Trupiano was delivered but suffered from severe hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy, a condition caused by a lack of oxygen or blood flow to the brain around the time of birth. Kimberley was placed in a coma, and both mother and daughter were transferred to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton. Despite medical efforts, Olivia died five days later on 19 September.
Kimberley said: 'I went to the hospital because I had fainted, was weak, dizzy and in excruciating pain – pain I knew was not normal. They told me I had trapped wind... My pain never subsided and it turned out I was bleeding internally.' The couple, who have two older children aged eight and ten, said their grief was compounded by discovering that other families had also lost babies under similar circumstances within the same NHS trust.
The family has instructed law firm Slater and Gordon to investigate Olivia's care. Ayesha Hussain, a clinical negligence solicitor, said: 'The loss of Olivia has been absolutely heartbreaking... The fact that Olivia is one of several babies who died within University Hospitals Sussex's maternity services... is deeply concerning.' Dr Maggie Davies, chief nurse at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, said: 'We are desperately sorry for the loss of Olivia, and the trauma and grief we know this has caused everyone in the family.' The trust confirmed two reviews into Olivia's care have been conducted.
