Midwife 'asked to keep quiet'

A Wanaka midwife testified in the High Court at Dunedin yesterday that she was asked by Jennifer Crawshaw not to tell medical staff about a first-time mother in labour with a breech-position baby.

Pauline Hunter said Crawshaw, a midwife and the patient's lead maternity carer, had asked her not to say anything about the woman's presence in the unit.

Ms Hunter said Crawshaw told her the woman had previously spoken with two obstetricians, both of whom had advised an elective Caesarean but that the patient wanted a natural delivery and wanted no further discussions with any staff.

Crawshaw, 44, is on trial for the manslaughter of the woman's baby.

The infant died about 33 hours after it was delivered at the unit on March 14, 2004.

Crawshaw is charged with manslaughter by failing to use reasonable knowledge, skill and care in administering medical treatment, namely midwifery services, which was, or might be, dangerous to life.

She denies the charge.

The trial is before Justice Panckhurst.

Ms Hunter, one time co-ordinator of the Queen Mary Maternity Centre delivery suite, said when she first saw Crawshaw, some time after the pregnant woman's admission, that Crawshaw asked her to keep the woman's presence secret.

She was told the first-time mother wanted a normal vaginal delivery although the baby was in breech presentation, and she did not want anyone to know of her presence.

Ms Hunter said she told Crawshaw the request for secrecy put her in a difficult position but Crawshaw assured her the labour was progressing normally and well. The jury earlier heard from the baby's parents about the mother's wish to have a normal delivery although the baby was in the breech position.

Both spoke of the mother's determination to have a natural birth.

- NZPA