A mother who tragically passed away during a home birth believed she was at low risk due to minimal blood loss experienced in a previous delivery, an inquest revealed.
Jennifer Cahill, 34, died in a hospital on June 23, 2024, after giving birth at her family residence in Prestwich, Greater Manchester, alongside her husband Robert Cahill and their first child. Their second child, baby Agnes, also succumbed in the hospital four days later.
Both mother and baby faced complications, with Agnes being born not breathing and with the umbilical cord around her neck, while Mrs. Cahill suffered an estimated two liters of blood loss.
The cause of Mrs. Cahill’s death was determined as multi-organ failure from cardiac arrest induced by postpartum hemorrhage, as stated by the pathologist during a hearing on October 17, according to the Manchester Evening News. Her delivery was deemed high risk due to prior birthing complications in 2021.
After losing 800ml of blood and needing a transfusion due to postpartum hemorrhage during her first delivery, Mrs. Cahill was referred back to midwifery care following a consultant review in her subsequent pregnancy, which led her to believe she was no longer at high risk.
Testifying at the Rochdale Coroner’s Court, Katherine Kershaw, a friend of Mrs. Cahill for 25 years, mentioned that Mrs. Cahill considered changing to a birth center if necessary, indicating she was open to alternatives rather than insisting on a home birth.
Midwifery director Abigail Holmes from University Hospital Wales also expressed her belief that Mrs. Cahill did not perceive herself as high risk and would not knowingly endanger herself or her baby.
The court was informed about the use of more positive language in maternity settings to avoid alarming terms like “against medical advice” or mentions of death, with an emphasis on providing complete information to enable informed decision-making, especially concerning risks such as death from postpartum hemorrhage.
The inquest overseen by Coroner Joanne Kearsley is set to continue.
