http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1248949/Young-mother-jailed-biting-midwife-childbirth.htmlA young mother was jailed yesterday for deliberately biting a midwife who was helping to deliver her baby.
Leanne Pennington, 26, was in the final stages of labour when she sank her teeth into the forearm of experienced midwife Carolyn Burden.
Mrs Burden, 41, needed immediate first aid but bravely went back onto the ward to help Pennington give birth.
But the experienced nurse later had to endure six months of HIV and hepatitis tests because Pennington was a "high risk patient".
Magistrates heard Pennington caused problems on the maternity ward at the 440-bed Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales.
The court was told mother-of-four Mrs Burden suffered a swollen and bruised arm in the bite attack.
Pennington, of Merthyr Tydfil, admitted assault and was jailed for 20 weeks by Merthyr Tydfil magistrates.
After the case Mrs Burden told of her ordeal and warned other midwives they are in a vulnerable position.
She said: 'It was completely out of the blue. I was taking care of the woman in labour and she bit me.
'My job is to help women by ensuring the safest delivery for mum and baby.
'But this experience has been a bit of an eye-opener. Because she was a high-risk patient, I had to be tested for hepatitis and HIV.
'Luckily, the results came back negative.'
Mrs Burden, of Swansea, said midwives were at risk because they are so physically close to patients.
She said: 'You can't protect yourself from something like that happening. It does put us in a high-risk position. I had to go back into the room after it happened - I was not overjoyed, but I had a duty of care.
'I love my job and think it's the best job in the world - it's a privilege. The good things far outweigh the bad things.'
Cwm Taf Local Health Board, which runs the hospital, said they operate a zero-tolerance approach to violence and aggression against staff.
A spokeswoman said: 'All maternity patients are risk-assessed when they book into maternity services.
'If risks are identified a plan of care is put in place to mitigate against these risks wherever possible.
'The plan forms part of the patient's notes. Posters are displayed in the maternity unit explaining our zero- tolerance attitude towards violence and aggression.'
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