A FAMILY who only got to spend 22 minutes with their baby boy said they now have closure – after an inquest into their son's death.

David O'baka-Torto spent 22 precious minutes in his parents' arms after being born at the Royal Oldham Hospital on November 22, 2017.

He was born extremely premature, with multiple fetal abnormalities, and severe growth restriction, an inquest at Rochdale Coroner's Court in Heywood heard today (February 16).

Assistant coroner Catherine McKenna recorded a narrative conclusion.

Father Duke Mr O'baka-Torto said: "We have had the answers we are looking for and at last it brings closure. We are happy that David is resting with the Lord."

Parents Duke and Janet O'baka-Torto, from Bill Williams Close, in Openshaw, buried David three weeks ago. They have two children, 12 and 13, who were born at low weight, and have suffered the loss of five pregnancies since.

A scan on August 21, 2017, confirmed Mrs O'baka-Torto was between eight and nine weeks pregnant with David.

Mrs O'baka-Torto, a registered nurse, said: "At that time, I spoke to a sonographer about some spotting and patches. She said there was a happy baby in there and she didn't see why I could not carry this pregnancy.

"The patches were of no concern at that time."

At a 16-week scan on September 19, Mrs O'baka-Torto was nominated for consultant-led care due to her pregnancy history.

Dr Iram Siddiqui, consultant at the Royal Oldham, said: "The 16-week scan found that the fetus was curled up and numerous placental lakes could be seen."

The placental lakes are spaces that appear when the placenta has not started to work properly and it begins to form blood in those spaces.

A scan on November 7, Mrs O'baka-Torto's first appointment at the Royal Oldham, showed a progression of what had been seen at 16 weeks.

Dr Siddiqui said: "The placenta fluid was reduced, there was very limited movements from the baby, the baby's measurements were too small."

She added: "It is quite clear that the problems started due to the poor placenta - it did not develop properly."

David had severe growth restriction and would not have survived.

The family were told that David's tummy was missing, he had long legs, and a hole in his heart.

Mrs O'baka-Torto asked whether something should have been done when the spotting first began but Dr Siddiqui said: "It it only when the placental lakes became associated with growth restriction that they become significant. I don't think things would have changed."

The assistant coroner said to the family: "You asked if you could incubate or save him but sadly because it was so early in pregnancy, it was decided that could not be done."

In her conclusion, she said: "David died at 7.04pm. He had survived for 22 minutes following a termination of pregnancy which was undertaken because of multiple fetal abnormalities.

"The problems were identified in scans on September 19, November 7 and 15.

"I am really sorry you have had to go through this inquest.

"You said you were heartbroken when you found out about David.

"I do hope those 22 minutes you had with him were precious.

"You have my condolences."