A mother and her newborn daughter tragically passed away shortly after a home birth, as disclosed in an inquest. Jennifer Cahill, aged 34, died a day after delivering her second child, Agnes, who survived for four days before also succumbing. The heartbreaking incident occurred on June 3, 2024, at the residence of Jennifer and Rob Cahill in Prestwich, Bury, Greater Manchester.
Hospital personnel, after the deaths, criticized the decision for a home birth as being “outside of recommended practices” and “contrary to advice” due to concerns stemming from Jennifer’s previous childbirth. Nonetheless, Rob disputed that these warnings were ever explicitly conveyed to them. “I was not aware of these concerns until after the tragic events,” he informed the court.
During the court proceedings, Rob recounted the distressing moment when he had to dial 999 around 6:45 am on June 3, as baby Agnes was born unresponsive and resuscitation efforts by the nurse were unsuccessful. Subsequently, he rushed Agnes to the hospital, only to discover that his wife was also being transported to the hospital due to birth complications.
The coroner’s court hearing at Rochdale Coroner’s Court has not yet disclosed the causes of death for Jennifer and Agnes.
Rob emotionally shared, “We celebrated Agnes’ brief life as she approached the end. I held her close, expressing the love from her mother and brother, bidding her farewell. When I think of Agnes, I am grateful for the precious moments we shared amidst the challenges – she brought us solace, a memory I will forever cherish.”
Community midwife Caroline Nixon, who closely monitored Jennifer during her second pregnancy, acknowledged in court that a referral to a senior midwife should have been made due to Jennifer’s high-risk status.
Reflecting on Jennifer’s past postpartum complications with the first child, Rudy, the family faced challenges, including a postpartum hemorrhage and the risk of passing group B strep infection to the newborn, resulting in sepsis for Rudy. These concerns led to a detailed delivery and treatment plan for Jennifer’s second birth under the supervision of Dr. Rice at North Manchester General Hospital, part of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT). The plan recommended a hospital birth with active management to mitigate risks during delivery.
Despite the medical advice, Jennifer opted for a home birth, as she was anxious about a hospital delivery following Rudy’s traumatic birth. Community midwives, following trust policies, referred Jennifer to Dr. El-Adwan, recognizing her as a high-risk individual opting for a non-standard home birth plan.
The midwife stated that Jennifer was fully informed of the risks and alternatives, despite the decision deviating from medical advice. However, community midwives expressed concerns about high-risk individuals opting for home births, emphasizing the need for clearer communication on risks and choices.
Rob mentioned that Jennifer’s medical records did not explicitly mention any warnings regarding her choices or birth plan being “out of guidance.” His discussions with Jennifer centered on the implications of her carrying group B strep, rather than the risk of postpartum hemorrhage.
The court also learned that the emphasis on respecting women’s choices during training sometimes led to challenges in communicating potential risks effectively. The midwife highlighted the need for improved clarity in advising high-risk individuals and the importance of addressing deviations from standard medical recommendations.