Deceased
Baby E
Demographics
1y, female
Coroner
Coroner Catherine Fitzgerald
Date of death
2022-12-29
Finding date
2024
Cause of death
Neonatal pneumonia, meconium aspiration and chorioamnionitis secondary to prolonged labour in a home birthing pool
AI-generated summary
Baby E died at home one day after birth at 40+ weeks gestation following a prolonged labour in a hired plastic birthing pool. The mother had no antenatal care, no midwifery support, and her Group B Streptococcus status was unknown. Autopsy revealed neonatal pneumonia from meconium aspiration, chorioamnionitis, and Rhizobium radiobacter infection (associated with plastic materials). The coroner found the death preventable: hospital birth would have enabled cardiotocography to detect foetal distress, prompt intervention, GBS screening with antibiotics, and immediate neonatal resuscitation. Even a planned homebirth with trained midwife attendance would likely have prevented this outcome through appropriate escalation of care. The single GP visit at 36 weeks provided minimal benefit given the mother's planned freebirth approach.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes. Report an inaccuracy.
Specialties
Error types
Clinical conditions
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