Jennifer Cahill, 34, died the day after she gave birth at her home in Prestwich and never got to hold baby Agnes – who lived for four days before tragically also dying
The cause of death of a mum who died along with her newborn baby shortly after giving birth at home has been revealed.
Jennifer Cahill, 34, died a day after giving birth at her Prestwich home, after which her newborn baby girl, Agnes, also tragically died. An inquest into their deaths in June 2024 continued at Rochdale Coroners’ Court on Friday.
Speaking to the court via videolink, pathologist Lisa Barker outlined the findings of the post-mortem examination on Jennifer. Dr Baker said she had “gradually built up quite an extensive experience with maternal deaths” in her 20 years as a pathologist.
She said fluid was found in Jennifer’s chest, lungs and kidneys, “consistent with multi-organ failure”, adding she found a three-centimetre tear in Jennifer’s vagina. Her suggested cause of death was “multi-organ failure due to cardiac arrest, due to postpartum haemorrhage”.
Evidence was also read out in relation to the investigation of Jennifer’s activity on a home birth Facebook group. A statement from detective inspector Julie Adams of Bury police station was read by coroner Joanne Kearsley.
The ‘Home Birth Support Group UK’ group described itself as “without a doubt the most comprehensive, supportive Home Birth and birthing resource on the internet”. Officers were provided with screenshots from a member of the public who came forward after following the media coverage of the inquest.
The court heard Jennifer posted in the group on December 8, 2023, asking questions about her own pregnancy. The comments were giving advice. Greater Manchester Police had spoken to an admin of the group, Samantha Gadsden, and she told police that “she doesn’t recall any previous conversations with Jen”, the court was told.
Ms Kearsley noted the group’s description stated no medical advice was given. Also taking to the witness stand were North West Ambulance Service staff who attended the Cahill’s Bury home on June 3, 2024.
Senior paramedic Sean Scroop; paramedic Adrian George; and emergency medical technician (EMT) Leah Brennan addressed the court. It was described as “once in a career incident that you would have to attend” for the emergency service workers. Mr Scroop was first to arrive at the scene.
He transported baby Agnes to hospital after helping community midwife Julie Taylor resuscitate her, Manchester Evening News reports. Mr George and Ms Brennan, who was a trainee at the time, were tasked with staying at the home to make observations; support the midwives; and transfer her to North Manchester General Hospital.
Mr Scroop primarily cared for baby Agnes, although he told the court he was able to have a “look” at Jennifer who was a “good colour”. The experienced paramedic told the court he “instructed” the windows be opened and lights switched on as he entered the dimly lit home, where he found midwife Ms Taylor attempting to resuscitate baby Agnes.
The court heard the umbilical cord was still attached to Agnes as Ms Taylor performed chest compressions on the newborn. Mr Scroop said the midwives left the cord attached as “they wanted as much blood going to Agnes as possible”.
He noted midwife Ms Taylor had been struggling to adequately stimulate baby Agnes due to a fault with her equipment. He told the court he eventually took over and instructed the midwife “to clamp and cut the umbilical cord”.
Describing the action he took to revive Agnes, he said: “I moved her to open her airways better. She did take her first breath and she started to pink up nicely.” Two ambulances were called to the home. Mr Scroop said Jennifer’s husband Robert rode with him as Agnes – who was “showing positive signs” – was rushed to hospital.
He told the court he and Robert were unaware Jennifer had begun bleeding minutes after they had departed. Paramedic Mr George told the court he was made aware of Jennifer’s history of postpartum haemorrhage during a brief conversation with the midwives.
He told the court he witnessed Jennifer’s health ‘deteriorate’ while she was in his care. The court heard how when he first arrived, Jennifer showed no signs of external bleeding. “What I saw wasn’t any more than what could be expected in that situation,” Mr George added.
But as preparations were made to take Jennifer to the hospital, Mr George said she became “agitated”. As he attempted to move her, she “appeared to lose strength in her legs” and became “lethargic”, eventually losing consciousness, he added. He confirmed he witnessed Jennifer suffer blood loss through the delivery of her placenta and that in a conversation in the ambulance, a midwife said she had lost around “two litres of blood”.
Asked if more could have been done in observing and providing Jennifer with medication, Mr George said: “Ideally, she should have had more observations, but she wanted us to leave her alone. I was comfortable with respecting her wishes to be left alone.”
EMT Ms Brennan noted the difficulties she and her colleagues had in gaining access to the family’s home as well as getting a wheelchair to move Jennifer into the ambulance. Asked about what she remembered of Jennifer’s initial wellbeing before she took a turn, she said: “She looked okay. She was a good colour. She was engaging with us as much as she wanted to. She looked like a woman who had just given birth, that’s the best way to describe it. But not acutely unwell.”
The inquest resumes next week.