A Ballarat mum was forced to give birth in the front bedroom of her home after being turned away from the maternity ward, despite having contractions.
Courtnie Apps was in immense pain when she arrived at Ballarat Base Hospital with her best friend Ashlee Meek on Monday night.
“It was intense,” Apps told 9News.
She was taken to the pregnancy assessment area and underwent testing.
“They said, ‘You’re not in labour so this pain you’re having must be from your kidney infection, which can be quite painful,'” Apps recalled.
Apps was sent home with painkillers and a strong sleeping pill.
“We’re like, ‘Are we crazy? We’re clearly seeing she’s in labour,'” Meek said.
They arrived home and within the hour, Apps gave birth to her daughter, Alaida Hope.
Meek, a nursing student and aspiring midwife with six children of her own, assisted in the birth.
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“I had to put my hand on the baby’s head to stop her from coming out too fast and doing too much damage, all while trying to dial triple zero with my other hand,” she said.
“It was just pure luck really that nothing happened and that baby didn’t need any help and that mum didn’t have a serious haemorrhage.”
The pair and the baby returned to Ballarat Base Hospital in an ambulance.
Apps said no one had yet apologised.
“Listen to your patients. They’re telling you that something’s not right,” Apps said.
A spokesperson for Grampians Health told 9News it wouldn’t comment on Apps’ case.
“Grampians Health respects the privacy of our patients and is unable to provide details or comment on individual cases,” the spokesperson said.
“The safety of our patients is critical to our role as a healthcare organisation and we are committed to providing excellence in care.”
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