Husband untangles umbilical cord

The hospital has offered to meet the couple to discuss Mrs Williams' care

A hospital has apologised to a mother who had to rely on her husband to deliver their baby because there was no midwife available.

Stephen Williams had to unwrap the umbilical cord, which had got tangled round his daughter's neck, during the birth at the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

Mr Williams and his wife Suzanne were told there was no midwife available.

The Reading hospital said the birth was "extremely quick" but it had apologised to the couple for the distress caused.

Mrs Williams said: "I was very panicky, scared, just didn't know what to think.

"The last two births I've had midwives with me.

"I think it's just having that person that's trained, that knows what's going on, does reassure you."

Needs counselling

Mrs Williams said she still needed counselling to get over what happened when she gave birth to Jess at the maternity unit on 6 August.

"I still sit down and think about it quite frequently. I just wished it had been a better experience," she added.

The couple want the hospital to assure them such an incident will not happen again.

In a statement, the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust said: "Mrs Williams made a complaint to the trust about the standard of care which she received during the birth of her child.

"The matters were fully investigated and a response provided.

"Despite the adequate staffing on the ward, the extremely quick birth meant that Mrs Williams was unaccompanied by staff at the point of delivery.

"A midwife attended immediately when Mr Williams reported that the birth was progressing rapidly.

"Mrs Williams had been carefully monitored before this and, over a period of hours, there had been little change in her condition.

"Despite the midwife's prompt response the baby had already arrived.

"We have apologised to Mrs Williams and her husband for the distress this caused.

"We have also offered a meeting with our chief nurse and head of midwifery to discuss her care."