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Midwife ignored request for caesarean: inquest

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A midwife dismissed a Queensland mother's request for a caesarean because "women say a lot of things when they're distressed with pain", an inquest has heard.

Nixon Tonkin died shortly after being delivered at Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital in June 2014 at 38 weeks' gestation.

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Baby Nixon had fractured skull

An inquest is being held into the death of Nixon Tonkin at the RBWH in June, 2014 after he suffered a fractured skull during delivery. Nine News

The inquest into his death heard on Monday that a midwife dismissed mother Simone Tonkin's request for a caesarean while she was being induced.

"Women say a lot of things when they're distressed with pain," she said.

"She mentioned she wanted a caesarean when she was in pain.

"She said a few times like 'I'm over it'."

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The midwife said Mrs Tonkin did not raise the issue of a caesarean after she was given morphine and agreed to be taken back to the ward.

She also did not tell anyone else at the hospital about Mrs Tonkin's request but would have if she "demanded" it.

"It didn't seem like an issue when she wasn't in pain," she said.

"In retrospect I might have gotten a doctor."

The midwife also claimed she did not remember speaking to husband Martin Tonkin, who states he told her his wife and he wanted a caesarean.

Nixon's skull was fractured when a different midwife attempted to free his head from the birth canal during the caesarean.

Brisbane Coroners Court has previously heard the not uncommon manoeuvre didn't usually cause such catastrophic injuries but cases had been reported.

The inquest continues.

AAP