A mother of an autistic boy who has developmental delays has urged women who have endured traumatic births to speak up and not to doubt their instincts.
Fatih Tutty from Dungarvan, Co Waterford was speaking as her High Court action on behalf of her six-year-old son, Nate, was settled.
Ms Tutty and her son were awarded €1.4 million for the next six years arising from the circumstances of Nate's birth at University Hospital Waterford in June 2017.
His condition will be assessed again in six years.
The settlement against the HSE is based on the hospital admitting 70% liability.
Nate cannot speak and has behavioural challenges the court heard.
The Tuttys’ Senior Counsel Jeremy Maher told the court that "all of this could have been avoided" if he had been delivered earlier by cesarean section.
The court heard it was the Tuttys’ case that Nate was deprived of oxygen before his birth and suffered trauma during his birth.
They also say the obstetrician did not remain with Ms Tutty while the birth was happening.
In a statement outside court, Ms Tutty, who is 41 and a self-employed beauty therapist, said when she took her son home after his birth, she did not question the care given to either of them and was oblivious to the "multiple failures" they suffered.
She urged any mother who had suffered a traumatic birth to "be courageous, ask questions, speak up".
She said they should not doubt their instincts, they should not be silenced by fear or guilt and should seek answers.
Ms Tutty said no one should have to go through what she went through at their most vulnerable. Giving birth should be a positive empowering experience but she said, sadly, for a lot of women like her, it was not.
She said her choice and her son’s voice were taken from them.
The settlement was positive for Nate’s future but it was still "heartbreakingly sad" as so many aspects of what happened could and should have been prevented.
Ms Tutty described her son as a survivor, calling him her "beautiful, brown-eyed boy" who was loved unconditionally.
But she said life was very challenging for him and they would both face many more challenges along their journey.
She said it was a relief to know her son would have all he needed and deserved to help him in the future.
She thanked her counsel, Mr Maher, her solicitor, Cian O’Carroll as well as her family and friends for their support.
