Police in Limassol have arrested two British midwives from Paphos on suspicion of endangering the life of a newly-born child and practicing medicine without a license after a home birth in Parekklisia went wrong.
According to Limassol CID investigators, the two women – who are British expats living in Paphos – were taken in for questioning after a newly-born baby and her Czech mother were rushed to Limassol General Hospital on Sunday following a natural birth at her home in Parekklisia.
A home birth in developed countries is an attended or an unattended childbirth in a non-clinical setting, typically using natural childbirth methods, that takes place in a residence rather than in a hospital or a birth centre, and usually attended by a midwife or lay attendant with experience in managing home births.
The newly-born child continues to be in critical condition and is currently on a respirator at Makarios Hospital in Nicosia while the 36-year-old mother is at Limassol General Hospital but in stable condition. The baby has been diagnosed with postnatal hypoxia. Police say that the two women had offered to undertake the natural birth process at her home in exchange for a fee of €1,300.
The mother had reportedly insisted on having a natural and had gone against the advice of state hospital doctors who had warned her of the risks of going into natural labour especially since she had previously given birth by caesarean section.
During the child birth on Sunday, there were some complications and the baby was delivered unconscious. An ambulance was called and it was quickly determined that the baby was suffering from breathing problems and lactic acidosis (when lactic acid builds ups in the bloodstream faster than it can be removed).
A complaint was then made to police by the Director of the Limassol General Hospital Paediatric Department.
Police moved in and arrested the two women who are currently under investigation for various criminal offences including exposing a child to danger, practising medicine without a license, committing a dangerous act under false pretences.
Both suspects have handed various documentation which is being reviewed by CID.
Speaking to state radio on Wednesday, Maternity and Gynecology Specialist Dr. Vaso Panagiotou spoke of the need for a natural birth room or ‘house’ within hospitals and clinics on the island to serve the needs of women wanting to have home births.
“Home births are increasing around Europe but there needs to be a safe environment also,” said Panagiotou.
“Unfortunately in Cyprus, we do not offer special designated ‘houses’ or ‘rooms’ for such options. That is something that as doctors of my specialised profession have many times called upon the Health Ministry to look into and there seems to be a positive response.”
Cyprus Weekly