A coroner has warned of the risks of home birth after a seven-day-old baby died following complications during a delivery that was deemed “unsafe” and against medical advice. Poppy Hope Lomas died at University College Hospital in London on 26 October 2022 after a home birth encouraged by midwives at Barnet Hospital, an inquest found.
The senior coroner for Barnet, Andrew Walker, said the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust had agreed to support an “unsafe home delivery that was against medical advice” and failed to address “an accumulation of risk factors”. The inquest concluded that Poppy probably died from a lack of oxygen reaching her brain in the 30 minutes before birth.
Poppy’s mother, Gemma Lomas, told the inquest that midwives had actively encouraged her to have a vaginal birth at home, despite the risk because she had given birth to her first daughter by caesarean section in 2018. National guidance advises that vaginal births after caesarean should take place in a suitably staffed and equipped delivery suite, with resources for an immediate caesarean.
In his closing remarks, the coroner flagged concerns about the use of the phrase “out of guidance” rather than “against medical advice”. He recommended that multi-disciplinary meetings involving parents should be held when they choose an unsafe home birth, and that they should sign a consent form clearly explaining the risks.
Gemma Lomas said outside court: “We trusted the professionals who were guiding us,” and expressed hope that lessons would be learned. A trust spokesperson offered condolences and said measures had been introduced to improve care, including better communication and ensuring midwives are aware of guidance on transferring mothers to hospital.
