6 Signs Your Liver Might Be Failing

Mom 'terrified' To Discover Baby She Was Caring For In Hospital Wasn't Hers — Here's How She Found Out

A British mom was left "absolutely terrified" after learning that the newborn baby she was caring for in the hospital was not actually her own child.

The shocking incident occurred last September at a hospital in Dorset, England where Maisie Beth, 22, had given birth to her daughter, Isabelle.

Beth says she only realized the mortifying mix-up when she went to change her daughter's diaper and discovered she was actually tending to a baby boy.

"God knows what would've happened," Beth told Caters on Wednesday "I could've breastfed this baby or the mom could've woken up to an empty crib."

Shortly after giving birth to baby Isabelle, midwives informed Beth that the infant needed phototherapy and would have to be placed in a special nursery.

One night, Beth went to go check on her newborn and found a midwife in an office holding a tot.

Maisie Beth, 22, gave birth to her daughter, Isabelle last September. Caters News Agency Shortly after giving birth to baby Isabelle, midwives informed Beth that the infant needed phototherapy and would need to be placed in a special nursery. Caters News Agency

"The midwife came out of the office and told me to come in because they had Isabelle in there and I just assumed they taken her out with her phototherapy crib while I was in the toilet," Beth claimed.

"They [nurses] told me they had her there for a while because she's been crying a lot," she continued. "They told me that she looked exactly like me. At this point it was so early and I was two days postpartum so I just didn't question anything and I took the baby back to my bed."

It was only later when Beth went to change the infant's diaper that she discovered she was actually doting on a boy, and not her little daughter.

"My instant reaction was that somebody had stolen my baby," the mom recalled. "I was absolutely terrified after four years of infertility. I thought I'd lost my baby after giving birth to her."

"My instant reaction was that somebody had stolen my baby," the mom recalled. "I was absolutely terrified after four years of infertility. I thought I'd lost my baby after giving birth to her." Caters News Agency

Beth believes the midwives mistakenly mixed-up baby Isabelle and a newborn boy at the hospital, but she's unclear whether the other child's mother ever realized.

"The [other] mom was asleep on a completely different ward from me and I don't know if she ever knew that the baby was passed to me," she explained

"As far as I'm aware, Isabelle was still in her phototherapy crib this whole time across the hall from me, but I have no idea what went on while I was in bed with the other baby."

Isabelle is seen in a recent photo taken by her doting mom. Caters News Agency Beth was relieved when she was reunited with baby Isabelle. Caters News Agency

The hospital has commenced an investigation into how the error occurred.

Lorraine Tonge, director of midwifery at University Hospitals Dorset, told Caters: "We deeply regret any distress that was caused and have reached out to the mother to offer her support."

"We would urge her to get back in touch with us to assist us in our investigation," Tonge added. "The safety of our parents and babies is the highest priority and we are committed to providing full support to the affected families."

Woman Shocked After Baby She Cared For In Hospital Was Not Her Daughter

Updated 09:41 19 Apr 2024 GMT+1Published 16:08 17 Apr 2024 GMT+1

A mother was left in complete and utter shock when she discovered the baby she had been caring for was not her own.

Maisie Beth, 22, from Poole, was stunned when she went to change her baby girl's nappy and realised she had been looking after a baby boy instead.

The mum, who was staying in the maternity unit at Poole Hospital was horrified, and demanded to know where her newborn daughter Isabella was.

Maisie was shocked when she realised the baby was not her own. (Caters News)

Isabella - also known as Belle - had been staying in a separate location in the ward, due to her needing phototherapy, which is a treatment for jaundice.

One evening, Maisie went to visit her daughter but found her with a midwife in the office.

She explained she found the situation confusing, considering Belle was supposed to be in her crib receiving phototherapy.

The new mum headed back to her room with her daughter, never imagining that she could have been handed the wrong baby.

But when the time came to return Belle, Maisie decided to change her nappy, only to find that she had actually been caring for a baby boy.

"I went to the toilet on my way back and the midwife came out of the office and told me to come in because they had Isabella in there and I just assumed they taken her out with her phototherapy crib while I was in the toilet," said Maisie.

"They told me they had her there for a while because she's been crying a lot, and I did think this was strange because she wasn't allowed out of her photo therapy crib, and I'd also just been cuddling a baby in the nursery."

Maisie ran to the midwives' office and demanded to know where her daughter was.

She says the midwife explained that Maisie looked identical to the baby boy's mother and she had confused the two women.

"My thought was oh gosh I hope nobody noticed that I was cuddling a baby that wasn't mine," she added.

Maisie realised the baby wasn't hers when she changed his nappy (Caters News)

"Nurses then told me that she looked exactly like me at this point it was so early and I was two days postpartum so we just didn't question anything and I took the baby back to my bed.

"The mum was asleep on a completely different ward from me and I don't know if she ever knew that the baby was passed to me.

"My instant reaction was that somebody had stolen my baby. I was absolutely terrified after four years of infertility. I thought I'd lost my baby after giving birth to her.

"As far as I'm aware, Isabella was still in her phototherapy crib this whole time across the hall from me, but I have no idea what went on while I was in bed with the other baby.

"When I saw her again, the relief I felt is unexplainable. She was still asleep in her little car and it didn't seem like anything that happened to her but I instantly felt an overwhelming feeling of guilt for the other mum.

"After the incident it was never really spoken about again."

Luckily, Maisie realised what had happened. (Caters News)

Lorraine Tonge, director of midwifery at University Hospitals Dorset, said: "We are investigating an incident in our maternity unit in September 2023 in which a baby was handed to the wrong mother.

"We deeply regret any distress that was caused and have reached out to the mother to offer her support.

"We would urge her to get back in touch with us to assist us in our investigation. The safety of our parents and babies is the highest priority and we are committed to providing full support to the affected families."

Tyla has also reached out to University Hospitals Dorset for further comment.

Featured Image Credit: Caters

Topics: Parenting, Real Life, Health

Home Jaundice Treatment Available Due To Funding

Newborn babies cared for by an NHS trust can receive treatment for jaundice in their own homes thanks to new funding.

Traditionally, families have had to take their babies to hospital for treatment.

But after funding from Royal Surrey Charity, a trained healthcare professional from the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust will visit homes equipped with portable phototherapy devices.

Jo Macleod, consultant neonatal nurse at Royal Surrey, said: "We know the toing and froing to hospital disrupts the bonding period for families and can create stress."

Jaundice is a common condition in newborn babies caused by elevated levels of bilirubin, a yellow pigment found naturally in the blood.

While normal for babies to have the condition to some degree, in a very small number of cases it can develop into permanent brain damage and must be treated.

The standard treatment is exposure to light waves, known as phototherapy.

The new at-home phototherapy project is backed by £30,000 of funding from Royal Surrey Charity that was secured through the trust's Bid for Better 2023 initiative.

Ms Macleod added: "Treating jaundice in the home is simple with the right equipment and not only enhances convenience for families but also promotes bonding and reduces the stress associated with hospital visits."

---