Baby died after exhausted mum sent home - coroner

Evelyn was born at Leeds General Infirmary in September 2023

A baby girl died after her exhausted mother was sent home from hospital four hours after giving birth, a coroner has found.

Evelyn Grace March was born at Leeds General Infirmary in September 2023 and died during breastfeeding a day later.

An inquest into her death on Thursday heard how it was likely her mother had fallen asleep and the baby was accidentally suffocated.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said what happened was "truly tragic", adding it would "respond fully" to the coroner’s report.

In his report, senior coroner Kevin McLoughlin wrote the mother had endured "a prolonged labour" and had little sleep from Sunday 24 September 2023.

Her baby was born at 04:38 BST on Tuesday and the family was sent home four hours later, at 08:49.

At around 01:45 BST on Wednesday, Evelyn was brought into her mother's bed as she was unsettled.

Mr McLoughlin said it was likely the exhausted mother fell asleep while trying to breastfeed her baby.

When she woke up at about 04:00 BST, Evelyn was found unresponsive under her mother's breast.

She could not be revived and was pronounced dead at 07:50 BST at Leeds General Infirmary.

• If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story you can visit BBC Action Line.

In a prevention of future deaths report following Thursday's inquest, Mr McLoughlin raised concerns over the mother's early discharge from hospital.

He wrote: "Consideration should be given to the wisdom of discharging a mother so soon after a prolonged labour and induced delivery.

"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."

Forensic pathologists were unable to determine a medical cause of death for Evelyn.

Mr McLoughlin concluded: "It is likely the death was attributable to overlaying arising from the accidental suffocation of the baby by a sleeping adult."

Rabina Tindale, chief nurse at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "We send our heartfelt condolences to Evelyn’s family at this incredibly difficult time and what happened to them is truly tragic.

"All our mums and babies are individually assessed before they are discharged home and safer sleep advice is provided antenatally and again before discharge.

“Previous independent reports into Evelyn’s death made no safety recommendations for the trust and we will respond fully to the coroner’s report.”

The trust has until 11 November 2024 to respond to the findings.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.