Birthing pool baby died after ‘near-drowning incident’

A NEWBORN baby boy died as a result of an “acute near-drowning incident” while being delivered in a birthing pool at Cavan General Hospital last year, an inquest heard yesterday.

Consultant pathologist, Dr Peter Kelehan told Dublin City Coroner’s Court that baby Harry Eccles died three days after his birth as a result of complications from inhaling a quantity of freshwater.

However, the case was adjourned after lawyers for Cavan General Hospital demanded to call their own expert witnesses because of their dissatisfaction with the pathologist’s findings.

The inquest heard baby Harry was born to Gina Eccles, aged 22, of Lakeview, Virginia, Co Cavan, in a birthing pool attached to the midwife-led unit at the hospital on February 26, 2006.

Dr Kelehan told the inquest that an autopsy revealed that the baby died due to a lack of oxygen and hyponatraemia — an abnormal reduction in the sodium concentration in the blood.

He concluded that this was due to the dilution of the baby’s blood by the freshwater from the birthing pool, during an “acute near-drowning incident.”

Midwife, Elizabeth Loughran, who assisted at the birth, gave evidence that Ms Eccles had been deemed suitable for a water birth after being examined by consultants who considered hers a low-risk pregnancy.

Questioned by Dublin City Coroner, Dr Brian Farrell, Ms Loughran, a midwife with over 20 years experience, said water births were considered a simple procedure for low-risk mothers.

The fact that Ms Eccles had suffered a previous miscarriage was not a factor in considering her suitability for having a water birth.

The midwife said baby Harry was born without any difficulties in the birthing pool.

However, she noticed immediately after the baby was delivered that he was blue in colour and had poor muscle tone. The infant had breathing difficulties and was not responding to touch.

At that stage, Ms Loughran said she activated an emergency bell to receive assistance from a senior consultant and other midwives.

The baby’s grandmother, Siobhan Eccles, said the midwife had exerted pressure on her daughter’s stomach just prior to the delivery of the baby, which had caused her to leave out a scream.

Consultant paediatrician at Cavan General Hospital, Dr Alan Finan, said he believed the baby had suffered a “neurological insult” before or during the birth.

Baby Harry was placed on a ventilator in the baby care unit at Cavan General Hospital and was subsequently transferred to the National Maternity Hospital at Holles Street, Dublin, where he on March 1, 2006.

Dr Matthew Thomas, consultant paediatrician at Holles Street, said the baby had suffered from low sodium levels in his blood as well as acute brain trauma.

However, Dr Thomas said the low sodium levels in baby Harry’s blood were “not fully explained.”

Dr Farrell adjourned the inquest until July 27.