Mom discovers the baby she was caring for in hospital wasn’t hers

Maisie Beth, 22, gave birth to her daughter, Isabelle last September.

A British mother was left "absolutely terrified" after discovering that the newborn baby she was caring for in the hospital was not her own child.

The shocking incident took place last September at a hospital in Dorset, England, where Maisie Beth, 22, had given birth to her daughter, Isabelle.

Beth realized the mix-up when she went to change her daughter’s diaper and found herself tending to a baby boy instead.

Shortly after giving birth to baby Isabelle, midwives informed Beth that the infant needed phototherapy and would need to be placed in a special nursery.

"I could’ve breastfed this baby or the mom could’ve woken up to an empty crib," Beth expressed her concerns.

After giving birth, midwives informed Beth that Isabelle needed phototherapy and would be placed in a special nursery.

One night, Beth went to check on her baby and found a midwife in an office holding a baby. She assumed they had taken Isabelle out for phototherapy.

My instant reaction was that somebody had stolen my baby," the mom recalled. "I was absolutely terrified after four years of infertility. I thought I’d lost my baby after giving birth to her."

"They [nurses] told me they had her there for a while because she’s been crying a lot," Beth recalled. "They told me that she looked exactly like me. At this point, it was so early, and I was two days postpartum, so I just didn’t question anything and I took the baby back to my bed."

It was during a diaper change that Beth realized the mistake.

"My instant reaction was that somebody had stolen my baby," she said, recalling her fear after years of infertility. "I thought I’d lost my baby after giving birth to her."

Beth was relieved when she was reunited with baby Isabelle.

Beth believes the midwives confused baby Isabelle with another newborn boy at the hospital, but she's unsure if the other mother ever realized the mix-up.

The hospital has launched an investigation into the incident. Lorraine Tonge, director of midwifery at University Hospitals Dorset, expressed regret and offered support to Beth and her family.

Isabelle is seen in a recent photo taken by her doting mom.

"We deeply regret any distress that was caused and have reached out to the mother to offer her support," Tonge stated. "The safety of our parents and babies is the highest priority, and we are committed to providing full support to the affected families."