Newborn died when 'exhausted' mother fell asleep and suffocated her

A newborn baby died after her 'exhausted' mother fell asleep trying to breastfeed her in her own bed, an inquest has found.

One-day-old Evelyn Grace March died after she and her mother were sent home from hospital just four hours after a long birth.

The coroner's report states that Evelyn was born at Leeds General Infirmary on Tuesday, September 26, 2023 at 4.38am, following a prolonged labour.

Her mother had had little sleep from Sunday, September 24 until her baby was born two days later and was 'exhausted'.

Despite this, she and her baby were discharged and sent home four hours after the birth.

At around 1.45am on Wednesday, September 27, the baby was brought into her mother's bed, because she was unsettled.

As she was being breastfed, the mother is thought to have fallen asleep. 

When she woke up again at around 4am, the baby was under the mother's breast in an unresponsive condition.

Despite emergency treatment, she could not be revived and was sadly pronounced dead at 7.50am at Leeds General Infirmary, the same place she had been born just a day earlier.

Evelyn's cause of death was recorded as 'unascertained', however the coroner said it is likely the death was caused by the accidental suffocation of the baby by a sleeping adult. 

Senior coroner Kevin McLoughlin believes that Evelyn's death could have been prevented had she and her mother not been sent home so soon after the birth. 

Mr McLoughlin added that they believe there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless the hospital takes action. 

In a report, which has been sent to Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, the coroner listed a number of concerns.

Firstly, the mother endured a prolonged labour and had little sleep from Sunday, September 24, until her baby was born at 4.38am on Tuesday, September 26. She was exhausted.

Secondly, the baby and her parents were discharged home four hours after the birth, at 8.39am.

Thirdly, the death of the baby is probably due to the exhausted mother falling asleep whilst trying to breastfeed the unsettled baby in her own bed sometime after 1.45am on Wednesday, September 27.

The coroner noted that consideration should be given to the wisdom of discharging a mother so soon after a prolonged labour and induced delivery.

Mr McLoughlin added that, had she been permitted to sleep in hospital for a few hours, knowing that her baby was being monitored, the tragedy may have been avoided. 

He said that action should be taken by the hospital. 

The coroner concluded: 'In my opinion, action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe your organisation have the power to take such action.' 

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has been given 56 days to respond to the report with details of action taken or proposed to be taken.