'I went to hell and back': Mum’s six‑month ICU ordeal after C‑section

An Ayrshire mum has spoken out after nearly dying following a caesarean section at a Scottish maternity unit.

When Heather Boyd went into Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock last January for a caesarean section, she expected to leave soon after with her baby boy, Charlie.

But the 38-year-old Saltcoats mum almost died and spent six months in ICU after her bowel was perforated during surgery to treat an abdominal abscess that developed after her caesarean.

A pelvic infection then sent her into septic shock, and she was placed into two induced comas.

The current image has no alternative text. The file name is: 1a31922891ba539548eca1d08e8c8485-1775579695.jpeg

“Pain wasn’t in the name for it,” Heather told STV News. “It was hell. It was like every part of me was stripped. It was as if I went to hell and back.

“To have Charlie and wake up with my insides hanging out. That’s not supposed to happen.”

Heather’s partner, Andrew, said: “It was obvious what was wrong because I saw she had all red on the stomach, like it was all swollen, and she was hallucinating.”

Heather was discharged with a 16-inch hole in her abdomen and now relies on a stoma bag and feeding tube.

“My bowel is exposed. Obviously, I can’t do as much as I used to. I used to be really hands-on. I missed six months with Charlie.

Heather missed six months with baby Charlie STV News

“It’s like something out of a horror movie. That’s how I can explain it. I would say the treatment overall, on a whole, was terrible. Inhumane. It’s like torture.”

NHS Ayrshire and Arran told STV News that, due to patient confidentiality, it is unable to comment on individual cases.

A recent inspection at Crosshouse Hospital found the maternity unit fell short in 16 areas.

In a letter to Heather seen by STV News, the health board apologises profusely and mentions a catalogue of failures in Heather’s care before the birth and after the c-section.

It states her C-section had been carried out by a trainee under supervision, and it states that identifying and recognising the severity of pus in her pelvic area might have prevented Heather from going into septic shock.

The health board also admitted there were missed opportunities to recognise how unwell she was, acknowledged inappropriate comments by staff, and concedes delays in diagnosing a bowel perforation contributed to the severe complications she suffered.

“It’s not good enough”, says Heather. “Apology is not going to give me back six months, and not spending much time early on my other kids.

“It’s going to give me back my health or my, yeah, my life. I’m annoyed that nobody’s taking accountability for what’s happened.

“I don’t want anybody else to walk in there and be treated or dismissed because people die daily because of that. They need to change things. It can’t happen to anybody else.”

NHS Ayrshire and Arran said: “Due to patient confidentiality, we are unable to comment on individual cases.

“We understand how important it is for people to feel heard and supported. Our complaints handling process allows us to listen, understand and respond directly with anyone who has concerns about the care or support they have received.”