A baby that died from complications during a free birth on the Sunshine Coast would have likely survived with timely medical care, a coroner’s court has heard, with an expert calling for women’s birth trauma to be taken seriously to prevent disengagement with conventional systems.
The baby girl – referred to as “Baby M” in the investigation – was “free birthed” on October 20, 2024.
Freebirths take place outside the hospital or medical system, usually at home, with no medical professional present.
The coroner was told that Baby M’s mother was traumatised by the birth of her first child, which was delivered by emergency caesarean section in 2021 following an abnormal heart rate reading.
She subsequently suffered two miscarriages – at four and 10 weeks – and wanted to try for a vaginal birth at home for her second child, initially with a midwife present.
The court was told that a private midwife was engaged, but Baby M’s mother declined recommended ultrasound scans and glucose tolerance tests. At about 30 weeks, she dismissed the midwife for financial reasons and instead made plans to carry out a free birth at home with her partner.
Baby M’s mother went into labour on the afternoon of October 20, 2024. A friend was contacted a few hours later “to come over to support and help”.
Baby M was born at approximately 11.40pm. She was noted to be “hypotonic, pale with nil spontaneous limb movements nor attempts at crying”, Deputy State Coroner Stephanie Gallagher said.
A friend of the family – an off-duty paramedic – was called for help, arriving a short time later with a neonatal valve bag mask and an oxygen cylinder.
Baby M apparently regained a heartbeat while being resuscitated.
An ambulance arrived at 12.13am and took Baby M to Sunshine Coast University Hospital.
Despite the efforts of paramedics and hospital staff, Baby M’s condition did not improve, and a decision was made to cease resuscitation efforts.
Baby M was declared dead at 2.42am on October 21.
An autopsy determined her death was caused by meconium aspiration syndrome – when a newborn inhales a mixture of their first stool and amniotic fluid, usually after becoming distressed.
Gallagher said if Baby M had been “delivered with the support of skilled personnel, an earlier identification of fetal distress and timely delivery with appropriate neonatal care and support would likely have prevented severe asphyxia resulting in neonatal death”.
Associate Professor Renuka Sekar, an expert in obstetric and maternal fetal medicine who reviewed the case, said appropriate care and advice was offered by the private midwife and the hospital team.
She said the case highlighted the real consequences of birth trauma.
“Maternity care staff need to take this seriously and when providing care, be mindful of the woman’s past birth history, her wishes for the current pregnancy, and provide comprehensive care for women that is respectful of their choices,” Sekar said.
“It is essential that hospitals provide care that is acutely sensitive to a woman’s needs, and partner with the woman to enfranchise her choices where possible to avoid her disengaging with conventional care.”
The freebirth movement has faced scrutiny following the death of 30-year-old nutritionist Stacey Warnecke in September last year, with a recent inquest hearing she refused antenatal screenings or the presence of a midwife at her birth due to fears medical interventions would be forced on her.
Emily Lal, a now-banned doula with no medical background, was instead present, and was questioned by the Victorian Coroners Court over her decision to delay calling an ambulance as Warnecke lay dying.
That inquest has been paused to consider new evidence.
Gallagher decided against holding an inquest into Baby M’s death and offered condolences to the family for their loss.
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