A DEVASTATED mother is considering suing a hospital after her baby suffered fatal head injuries during childbirth.

An inquest into the death of Ella Livesey was told that a medical team at Burnley General Hospital followed correct procedures during the "complicated" delivery.

But distraught mum Jeanne Livesey, of Sabden Brook Court, Sabden, has spoken out about her horrifying experience in an attempt to save another mum suffering the same loss.

She is upset that forceps were used after she had requested a Caesarean when a natural birth went wrong.

Ella was eventually born by Caesarean, weighing 9lb 8oz at about 10.45am on April 3, 2003.

But she died at about 1.10pm.

Home Office pathologist Dr John Rutherford carried out a post mortem examination and found Ella had suffered a fractured skull, slight brain swelling, and bruising to the left side and back of her head and left arm.

He told the inquest that he did not know if they were due to the forceps or the Caesarean.

Mrs Livesey says she wants expectant mums to be told about all of the dangers surrounding the use of forceps before they go into labour.

She said: "I have been told we still have grounds for legal action but we have not yet decided what to do.

"I would not want this to happen again.

"It's not destroyed us but I have lost all my faith in the NHS.

"The main thing we can do is make people aware of what can happen and the dangers of using forceps.

"I do think if a Caesarean had been done when I first suggested it she would have lived.

"I understand that a Caesarean is a dangerous operation and they explain that to you.

"But the time for all this discussion about birth and delivery should be done before you are in labour."

The mother-of-three had wanted a natural birth in a birthing pool when she went into labour.

But complications meant that was not possible.

Her husband Shaun was serving as a soldier in Iraq at the time so she was accompanied by her mother Kathleen Haworth, a retired nurse.

Both women told the inquest they had no recollection of the use of forceps being discussed with them during the birth.

Mrs Livesey has worked at the hospital as a pharmacy technician for 20 years.

She has since had another child -- this time at Blackburn as she could not bear going back to Burnley.

Dr David Campbell, consultant paediatrician at St James' Hospital, Leeds, was asked by the police to investigate and told last week's inquest he was satisfied the correct procedures were followed.

He said midwives Nicola Goode and Helen Smith said obstetrician Dr Fiona Hamer, who said she had performed 500 forcep deliveries, did not use excessive force during the birth.

Dr Hamer said Mrs Livesey was in the second stage of labour, where there was a much greater risk in performing a Caesarean.

Coroner Richard Taylor said he was satisfied there was nothing unusual in the forceps delivery.