'We heard a pop like pottery cracking': Parents heartbroken as baby girl dies after skull and spine were broken during forceps delivery

  • Rachel Melancon and Allen Coats plan to sue obstetrician and Texas hospital
  • 4ft 11in mother had pleaded for C-section as baby was too big
  • Couple claim doctor pulled with such force he had foot up on table
  • After forceps failed baby had to be pulled from beneath mother's pelvis during emergency C-section
  • Baby Olivia Marie died after five days on life support

By Daily Mail Reporter

PUBLISHED: 16:53 EST, 3 January 2014 | UPDATED: 17:42 EST, 3 January 2014

The parents of a baby girl who died after her skull was crushed during a forceps delivery are suing the Texas hospital where she was born.

Rachel Melancon had experienced a healthy pregnancy, but when a doctor at the Medical Center of Southeast Texas used forceps during the birth on December 28 it had devastating consequences.

As the medical device was clamped around her baby's head, the 24-year-old and her fiance Allen Coats claim they heard a popping sound as their daughter's skull was crushed.

Heartbroken: Allen Coats and Rachel Melancon with baby Olivia whose skull was crushed during an attempted forceps delivery

Heartbroken: Allen Coats and Rachel Melancon with baby Olivia whose skull was crushed during an attempted forceps delivery

Damage: Baby Olivia was born with a fractured skull and broken spinal cord, which left her brain damaged

Damage: Baby Olivia was born with a fractured skull and broken spinal cord, which left her brain damaged

The baby girl, named Olivia Marie, survived for five more days after being left brain damaged and with a fractured skull and severed spinal cord.

Her parents plan to sue their obstetrician, Dr George T Backardjiev, and the Medical Center of Southeast Texas.

The couple have also started a Facebook campaign page to petition against the use of forceps in all births.

Ms Melancon, at 4ft 11in and weighing 95lb before she became pregnant, had asked for a cesarean section when her baby was overdue and large, considering her mother's petite frame.

 

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But doctors warned her against having that type of delivery, saying she'd be left with a scar, her mother-in-law Angie Coats told ABC News.

After going into labor, baby Oliva's heart rate was increasing but the expectant mom kept being told to wait.

'It was 18 hours until the delivery. [Rachel] was running a 103 fever ... Five hours passed, then [the obstetrician] came in and she started to push. But she was so worn out and the baby wasn't even in the birth canal,' Ms Coats said.

Hope: Rachel had experienced a healthy pregnancy and the couple were looking forward to their baby's arrival

Hope: Rachel had experienced a healthy pregnancy and the couple were looking forward to their baby's arrival

Difficulties: Rachel had asked for a C-section because she was overdue and her baby was comparatively large for her petite 4ft 11in frame. Her request was turned down

Difficulties: Rachel had asked for a C-section because she was overdue and her baby was comparatively large for her petite 4ft 11in frame. Her request was turned down

Campaign: Rachel and Allen, pictured with Olivia, have started a petition to have forceps banned

Campaign: Rachel and Allen, pictured with Olivia, have started a petition to have forceps banned

She claimed the baby was facing the wrong way and Dr Backardjiev tried to turn her with his hands.

'When he couldn't do that, he took the small forceps to try to pull the baby out. He kept going and even put his foot up on the bed trying to pull,' she said.

Risks to mother and baby during a forceps delivery

In a forceps delivery a metal instrument, shaped like salad tongs, is clamped around the baby's head.

They are used to either guide the baby out the birth canal or, if the baby is facing the wrong way, to rotate the baby.

The mother is generally given an episiotomy - an incision from the vagina to the anus - as there is an increased likelihood of tearing.

It is considered a risky delivery, with the Mayo Clinic reminding expectant mothers that generally when a forceps delivery is recommended a C-Section is also an option.

In the mother, forceps can cause long-term urinary or fecal incontinence; genital tears; and damage to the uterus or bladder.

For babies, forceps can cause fractures, bleeding within the skull and facial injuries.

'When he touched the top and side of the skull, we heard a pop, like clay cracking in pottery and heard her skull crush.'

Ms Melancon was rushed off for an emergency cesarean but when Olivia was finally delivered the family say she was unable breathe.

Their baby was rushed to Hermann Hospital, where the parents were told that she had suffered numerous fractures.

In a post on their Facebook page, Ms Melancon said she heard '2 big popping sounds (it was her skull)' as the doctor used the forceps.

She claimed her baby was then left in the birth canal while the doctor stitched Ms Melancon up before she could have the emergency C-section.

'I felt her pulled out of me and the room was silent. No crying baby and they told Allen to leave the room. That's the last I remember before waking up to my baby girl lifeless,' she said in a heartbreaking post.

The parents kept a vigil at Olivia's bedside for five days before she was taken off life support.

Her heart valve and tissue behind her legs and knees were donated to save another baby's life.

Devastating: Baby Olivia was kept on life support for five days before she finally died

Devastating: Baby Olivia was kept on life support for five days before she finally died

Letting go: Olivia's parents, who kept a vigil at her bedside, donated her heart valve to save another baby

Letting go: Olivia's parents, who kept a vigil at her bedside, donated her heart valve to save another baby

Hospital chief executive Matt Roberts released a statement saying that Olivia's death 'rips at our hearts'.

The statement added that the hospital could not comment on specific cases but confirmed that a review would be carried out.

As well as a Facebook page to detail their experiences and raise awareness, the couple have set up a Go Fund Me page to pay for the funeral and try to pass Olivia's Law to ban the use of forceps.

Skull fractures are a risk during forceps births. The Mayo Clinic advises: 'Keep in mind that whenever a forceps delivery is recommended, a C-section is typically also an option.'






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This is such a sad story. Even sadder when you see pictures of her. Please love and hug your children. This poor family. Her soul is in heaven, that heart of hers still lives on!

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Over 12 months ago I would have seen this as just another unfortunate event, but 12 months ago I became a father and my whole world changed, this brings me near to breaking down. This is heartbreaking! Being a nursing student at the same time, I am appalled at the behaviour of the medical staff. This is something I highly doubt you would see in Australia. I would have possibly killed this doctor with my bare hands. How dare he take a life of such a beautiful little girl from her parents!

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My first baby was delivered with forceps, I was 5 ft tall and 95 pounds, he weighed 8 pounds and his head was shaped like this poor baby's. Thank god he was ok, but later I overheard a nurse say that the doctor had said my son should have been a c-section, and they got lucky when we were both ok.

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Ironic this occurred in Texas (the land of "we-hate-women-so-they-have-no-medical-rights"). Poor family. Glad they are suing (they'll win - EASY), but that will never heal this horrid trauma. In today's medical 'world', having death due to forceps is just extremely, extremely rare. The mother having 103F temp indicated the baby needed to be delivered right away (by C section) -- mother had infection which is always extremely bad for fetus during childbirth (baby also gets infected, has severe heart/lung issues, etc.). This was a textbook case of NECESSARY c-section. This "doctor" is either insane, has severe dementia, is plain evil/narcissist, or isn't a doctor at all. Any 2nd year medical student could have done better. Many prayers to this family. Hope they can somehow find peace -- such needless, easily preventable tragedy.

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I have had six children and my wife had them all naturally. One, my third son, when he was delivered, his skull plates ground together. I heard that sound spoken of here and it irks that doctors say babies are "tough" etc when it is obvious they are not. Nature has made it so they can survive a birth, that's all.I lost one of my children to meningitis, I know how they feel. It leaves a big void in the gut.

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Heartbreaking

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Texas sucks all the doctors I met there were idiots. What a pretty baby how awful.

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Then you met the wrong doctors. I am forever grateful to Texas doctors who are first class.

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Are you including MD Anderson one of the foremost cancer treatment hospitals in the country? By the way, blanket statements are not that smart...

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This is a tragedy. First of all, based on the size and frame of the mother and the baby's positioning, a C-Section should have been scheduled no longer than 3 days after the due date. I am 5'11" and I weigh 135 pounds. While I gained weight during pregnancy with my first born (I think it was 36 pounds) - the baby was weighing in at nearly 13 pounds. For 28 exhausting hours, I finally said, "I give up" and they started readying the OR for me. The doctor said try one more time to push and that's when they brought out the "tongs" - Eventually, he was out and all was good. Abnormal shaped head, but that went away. I feel so terrible for this couple whose Doctor would not let them make the decision to have a C-section. My prayers go up to you and baby Olivia. Keep in mind, one of Olivia's gifts was that she was able to help another baby survive.

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i am a father of two healthy boys that were delivered, i've been fortunate enough that the doctors we've had for both of my wife's deleveries took into account the size of the babies and both stated c-section might happen, both of our boys were over 9 lbs..... I am truly heart broken over this story and it helps me realize how lucky i am with our two situations at birth, if forcepts are ever mentioned as a possibility, i and my wife will be refusing, and making them go for a c-section, my heart aches for this family, and i hope they win their case, i hope god is with them and they raise the money they need and win their case against their "doctor" and that "doctor" never deliver's another baby again

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This breaks my heart. Look how big and healthy she looked! Needlessly dies due to incompetence!!!!

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