"Vacuum delivery complications"

I was 42 weeks pregnant and was induced at Bunbury regional. I went into the hospital wanting a c- section as I didn’t want to go down the route of an induction and in the cascade of interventions. I feel the Dr convinced me to have an induction and stated at any point of the induction process I could have a c- section- however it was not explained at what point that was. This Dr had also said to me ‘if I were you I’d be having an induction’. (Not appropriate). 

After a long second stage labour the doctor said my baby needed forceps or vacuum to be delivered. I declined both. I feel I was then pressured to make a decision by the doctor to pick one and said ok to a vacuum delivery. However I was not informed of the risks involved in a vacuum delivery and if I had known the risks I would have again declined knowing now the injuries the vacuum had caused my baby.

My partner and I had noticed our baby's neck was clicking every time they moved it and was really distressed every time we would pick them up. We were so lucky to have amazing midwives look after us and advocated for us for a paediatrician to come examine our baby. We had a registrar examine them that night but told us ‘it’s not serious enough to call in the consultant’. So our baby had to wait another 8 hours for a consultant to examine our baby who said to us that they thought there was in fact something wrong with their neck. After an X-ray we were told our baby's neck was fractured from c1-c4. This paediatrician then said it was fine for our baby to not have their neck immobilised, I believe putting our baby at risk of a spinal cord injury. We then had a lactation consultant come in 5mins later and try to help with breast feeding which I felt was so inappropriate. My partner and I had to advocate for our baby with a fractured c1-c4 throughout the day to ensure no one is going to pick them up with no c-spine precautions.  

On discharge at Bunbury Regional we were told an investigation would be done in regards to how our baby ended up with their injury. It has been nearly 11 months and we have heard nothing. No apology, no compensation, nothing.

Our baby ended up in a spinal brace for 4 months with both myself and my partner off work caring for our baby which has had a massive impact on our lives caused by the vacuum delivery caused by the doctor.