Baby died after missed monitoring in an overloaded Swedish maternity ward

A baby died six days after a difficult birth at Skåne University Hospital in Lund. The hospital's own investigation found heavy workload, failures to follow routines and gaps in fetal monitoring during his mother's labour.

Aida Bjurenfalk had previously given birth by caesarean section and was classed as a medium-risk patient who should receive continuous cardiotocography, or CTG. The investigation says missing monitoring may have delayed staff noticing that her uterus had ruptured. Her son Vidar suffered severe oxygen deprivation and a low heart rate.

The midwife and assistant nurse responsible for Aida were also caring for another active labour and helping with a third complicated birth, SVT reported. The ward had reduced its summer roster from six midwives to five even though summer is its busiest birth season.

The case sits within a wider safety problem. IVO's national maternity-care inspections found at least one shortcoming at every service and provider reviewed, with the most extensive failures in systematic quality and patient safety work.

A separate IVO analysis covered all 722 maternity-care complaints received in 2024. Patients frequently said staff had not listened to them and that harm could have been avoided. Aida told SVT she still wonders whether Vidar would have survived if routines had been followed.

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