A MOTHER'S two-year wait for answers about the death of her baby ended when an inquest concluded that she suffered serious head injuries during childbirth.

Ella Livesey, whose family live in Sabden, survived for just two hours after being born at Burnley General Hospital on April 3, 2003.

The hearing at Burnley Magistrates' Court was told Jeanne Livesey, a pharmacy technician, of Sabden Brook Court, had the child by Caesarean delivery after two failed attempts to delivery the baby with forceps.

But Mrs Livesey said she could not remember discussing the need for forceps.

And her mother Kathleen Haworth, a retired nurse, who accompanied her during the birth, said: "There was no discussion about forceps, my daughter was never consulted about the forceps.

"It was mentioned briefly as an aside. I wasn't asked if I agreed."

Dr David Campbell, consultant paediatrician gynaecologist at St James' Hospital, Leeds, was contacted by Lancashire Police to investigate the death.

He told the inquest the Caesarean performed was one of the most difficult of its kind and he was satisfied the medical team followed the correct procedures.

Ella was born weighing 9lb 8oz at about 10.45am after a complicated labour. She was taken away by a paediatrician and died at about 1.10pm.

The inquest heard from two midwives on duty, Nicola Goode and Helen Smith, who both said obstetrician Dr Fiona Hamer did not use excessive force when trying to deliver Ella.

The inquest was told that Mrs Livesey had initially refused pain killing drugs because she wanted a natural child birth.

Mrs Livesey was experiencing strong contractions in a birthing pool at about 8.50am. However, about 40 minutes later she became concerned at the lack of progress and requested a Caesarean, the inquest was told

Dr Hamer, who at the time of the birth had been an obstetrician for 16 years, said she had performed over 500 forceps deliveries.

She told the inquest she examined Mrs Livesey and found she was in the second stage of labour where there was a much greater risk to mother and baby in performing a Caesarean.

Dr Hamer said: "I was surprised when the baby's head was visible that it did not deliver easily. I think about her delivery every day and I go over what might have happened."

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 said the cause of death was the head injuries but did not know if they were suffered because of the forceps or during the Caesarean.

East Lancashire coroner Richard Taylor said: "I am satisfied that having heard from a number of medical experts there was nothing unusual in the forceps delivery.

"The overriding question is when did the head injury which was the cause of death take place?

"My conclusion is Ella Livesey died as a result of damage caused to her head during the cause of her birth."

Peter Ehrhardt, medical director of East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, today said: "I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to Mrs Livesey and her family on the death of her daughter, Ella Louise.

"A detailed investigation was carried out following the baby's death which found that the Royal College of Obstetricians guidelines on instrumental delivery had been followed.

"Unfortunately when a mother can't give birth naturally at the end of labour there are inherent risks involved to mother and baby. This risk applies whether the baby is delivered by forceps or Caesarian section."