Mums go into the hospital assuming we will leave with our babies but for a lot of us, that hasn't been the case. There can be no more mistakes

TWO mums who endured "hell" in maternity units have demanded that the probe into the state of services is carried out urgently.

- BY RUTH SUTER

Emma Owen, 22, and Heather Boyd, 38, are speaking out about their experiences after a taskforce to survey the units was announced by Public Health Minister Jenni Minto earlier this week.

But the mothers say the probe is "long overdue" and insist swift action must be taken to protect more women and babies from the "grief and agony" they both experienced.

Emma lost her baby boy Owen when he was less than a day old after he was born at University Hospital Wishaw in July 2023.

In the week before his birth, the mum of two attended the hospital's maternity unit four times with a sore head, swelling and general illness. At the time, she was 35 weeks pregnant and was sent home on each occasion with pain relief.

But when Emma was left unable to sit or lie down due to excruciating pain, she and her partner Joe Turner returned to the hospital and demanded to be properly seen.

After examinations, it emerged she had suffered a placenta abruption - when the placenta separates from the uterus before childbirth.