Baby dies after ‘exhausted mum fell asleep while breastfeeding’ when she was sent home just four hours after birth

A NEWBORN baby tragically died after her exhausted mother was sent home just four hours after a prolonged labour, an inquest heard.

Little Evelyn Grace March was just one day old when her mum fell asleep while trying to breastfeed her in her own bed.

Evelyn and her mum were discharged home on September 26, 2023 despite her having had little sleep for two days until her baby was born.

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.

At her inquest, it was found she had suffocated as a result of her mum falling asleep while trying to feed her.

Now, senior coroner for West Yorkshire, Kevin McLoughlin, has warned the "tragedy may have been avoided" if she had been allowed to sleep at Leeds General Infirmary for a few hours, with her baby being monitored.

Writing to Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, he questioned "the wisdom" of sending home Evelyn's mum "so soon" after a prolonged labour and induced delivery.

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

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

In a report, which has been sent to Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, the coroner listed four matters of concern.

It read: "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.

"The baby and her parents were discharged home four hours after the birth - at 8.39am.

"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.

"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."

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.