Mother's maternity review hopes after years of pain

Domenica Lopinto, 55, with her partner, Gianfranco Formosa

A woman who has endured constant pain since the birth of her second child is hoping the inquiry into Nottingham's maternity scandal will finally bring her answers.

Domenica Lopinto, 55, from Newthorpe, Nottinghamshire, was diagnosed with a rare form of nerve damage following the birth of her son in 2006.

Her case is one of nearly 2,000 being looked at as part of senior midwife Donna Ockenden's maternity review in Nottingham.

Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust said it recognised "the pain that Ms Lopinto has been suffering".

Ms Lopinto said: "I came out with a baby but I lost me that day. I don't remember what I was like before."

Birth plan issue

Ms Ockenden's review, which will examine how hundreds of babies died or were injured at NUH, was launched in 2022.

The bulk of the incidents being looked at took place from 2012.

But because Ms Lopinto's case was part of an earlier maternity review, which was later considered flawed, it has been transferred into the new Ockenden investigation.

Ms Lopinto was monitored closely during her second pregnancy as her first son had been born 12 weeks premature in 1998 after spontaneous bleeding.

In 2006, she was rushed to Nottingham City Hospital's maternity unit about 34 weeks into her second pregnancy after bleeding heavily and suffering abdominal pain.

She was reviewed by her consultant who left a birth plan, but the hospital later admitted in written correspondence with Ms Lopinto it had not been actioned.

She eventually gave birth four days later after being moved between the labour ward and antenatal unit several times.

Ms Lopinto has suffered from a rare form of nerve damage since she gave birth 18 years ago

"Nobody listened to me - they kept telling me what was happening and what they were going to do," she said.

"I was in agony. I kept telling everybody something is not right."

She was told she would have a Caesarean section, but doctors later said they could not find a record that one was ordered, according to hospital paperwork.

Ms Lopinto said the intense pain she experienced in labour continued after birth and had never gone away.

"I want my life back, I want to be me again and I can't be. I want to run, I want to swim, I want to climb mountains and I can't," she said.

"So many dreams I had have gone."

Her partner, Gianfranco Formosa, said he could "never make sense" of the situation.

"You don't expect your partner to go to hospital and have a baby and come out the way she has come out disabled," he said.

'Committed' to review

Anthony May, chief executive of NUH, apologised for any failings in Ms Lopinto's care which have contributed to her pain.

"It is entirely appropriate that Ms Lopinto’s case is part of the independent maternity review, and as with all of those taking part, I hope it gives her the answers that she is looking for," he said.

"I would also be very happy to meet with Ms Lopinto to discuss her care further if that is something she would welcome.

“In the meantime, we remain fully committed to the independent review.

"We are responding to the feedback that we receive from Donna Ockenden to make necessary improvements, and I know how hard our teams are working to provide the level of care we all aspire to.”

Ms Ockenden is due to publish her final report into Nottingham's maternity services in September 2025.

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