Baby found dead after 'exhausted' mum was sent home after long birth and fell asleep breastfeeding

Evelyn Grace March was just one day old when she was tragically pronounced dead at Leeds General Infirmary - the same place she had been born just a day earlier

A newborn baby died after her "exhausted" mum was sent home just hours after a lengthy birth. Baby Evelyn Grace March was one day old when her mother accidentally fell asleep while attempting to breastfeed her in bed, an inquest heard.

A coroner's report said Evelyn was born at Leeds General Infirmary on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, at 4.38am, after a prolonged labour. Despite her mother being "exhausted", having had little sleep from Sunday, September 24, until the birth of her baby, she and her parents were discharged home four hours post-birth.

At approximately 1.45am on Wednesday, September 27, the unsettled baby was brought into her mother's bed. While breastfeeding, the mother is believed to have fallen asleep. For the latest Welsh news delivered to your inbox sign up to our newsletter.

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Around 4am, the baby was found under the mother's breast, unresponsive. Despite immediate emergency treatment, little Evelyn could not be revived and was sadly pronounced dead at 7.50am at Leeds General Infirmary - the same place where she was born just a day prior, reports the Manchester Evening News.

While Evelyn's cause of death was recorded as "unascertained", the coroner suggested it was likely the death resulted from the accidental suffocation of the baby by a sleeping adult. Senior coroner Kevin McLoughlin said he believed that the death of baby Evelyn could have been averted if she and her mother had not been discharged from the hospital so soon after the birth.

He warned that there was a risk of future fatalities unless Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust acted promptly. In his report to the Trust, Mr McLoughlin outlined several concerns He emphasised the need for immediate action by the hospital to prevent further tragedies, saying: "In my opinion, action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe your organisation have the power to take such action."

The Trust has been given 56 days to reply to the coroner's report, detailing actions already taken or those it plans to implement.

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