A mother who tragically passed away alongside her infant during a home birth made a desperate plea while struggling through the delivery of her ‘beautiful’ daughter, recent reports reveal.
Jennifer Cahill, aged 34, was enthusiastic about the idea of a home birth after a challenging experience with her first child delivered in a hospital in 2021. Following the birth of her first child, Jennifer faced a postpartum hemorrhage resulting in a significant blood loss of over 800ml. She required a blood transfusion and was also a carrier of Strep B, leading to her baby contracting sepsis. Her time in the hospital with her son post-delivery was described as one of the most difficult periods of her life.
During an inquest, Jennifer’s husband, Rob Cahill, shared that the traumatic experience of her first birth left her apprehensive about delivering in a hospital. She felt overwhelmed and lacked adequate midwife support during her initial hospital birth.
After learning about her second pregnancy, Jennifer and Rob considered a home birth as an alternative. Jennifer sought advice from a dedicated Facebook group supporting mothers planning home births, eager to gather as much information as possible.
Opting for a home birth, Jennifer believed that having two midwives present would create a more supportive and peaceful environment, reducing stress for herself and her child. She envisioned a natural birth without medications or intimate examinations, preferring a dimly lit room and soft-spoken midwives.
The planned home birth commenced in the early hours of June 3, 2024, at the couple’s home in Prestwich, Greater Manchester. However, after eight hours of labor, Jennifer expressed her determination amidst exhaustion, shouting her commitment to the process.
Despite the challenges, baby Agnes Lily was eventually born around 6:50 am. Sadly, both mother and baby began to deteriorate rapidly. Agnes was born in distress without breathing, covered in meconium with the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck. The overwhelmed midwife had never performed a baby resuscitation before, leading to an urgent transfer to the hospital.
Tragically, Jennifer passed away the following day due to severe hemorrhaging, similar to her previous experience. Just three days later, baby Agnes also succumbed, losing her battle against hypoxia.
Jennifer, due to her past complications, had received care recommendations from a consultant at NHS North Manchester General Hospital. The strategy advised a hospital birth with active management to minimize hemorrhage risks during delivery.
During the inquest, it was revealed that Jennifer’s high-risk status warranted a referral to a senior midwife. Despite discussions about the risks, Jennifer remained committed to her home birth plan, with her decision not explicitly contradicted by medical advice.
Rob expressed that had they been alerted to the ‘out of guidance’ and ‘against advice’ warnings earlier, they might have reconsidered their home birth decision.