A mother who passionately wanted a natural birth experience tragically died from a massive haemorrhage just moments after delivering her baby at home, a coroner's court has heard.
The Dream of Natural Childbirth
Sophie Bennett, a 34-year-old mother from Bristol, had been determined to have a natural home birth despite having a higher BMI that classified her pregnancy as higher risk. The inquest learned she had specifically sought out the community home birth team in pursuit of her ideal birth experience.
On that fateful day in May 2023, Ms Bennett successfully delivered her baby at home, achieving the natural labour she had so deeply wanted. But moments after birth, tragedy struck when she suffered a catastrophic postpartum haemorrhage.
Emergency Response and Hospital Transfer
Paramedics rushed to the scene and performed emergency procedures, including a thoracotomy - an invasive chest surgery rarely performed outside hospital settings. Despite their desperate efforts, Ms Bennett could not be saved.
She was transported to Southmead Hospital in Bristol but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival, leaving behind her newborn child and grieving family.
Coroner's Concerns About Home Birth Safety
Avon Coroner Marie Voisin recorded a narrative conclusion, highlighting significant concerns about the home birth service. The inquest revealed there had been no specific risk assessment regarding Ms Bennett's BMI and its implications for a home delivery.
"The home birth service had a culture of strongly promoting home births," the coroner noted, adding that this approach may have influenced women's decisions without adequate consideration of potential risks.
Family's Heartbreaking Loss
Ms Bennett's family described her as a vibrant woman who had been "blossoming" during her pregnancy. Her death has left them devastated and raising serious questions about the safety protocols surrounding planned home births.
The tragedy has sparked wider discussions within the healthcare community about balancing maternal choice with safety considerations, particularly for women with identified risk factors.
North Bristol NHS Trust has since implemented changes to their home birth service protocols, though for Sophie Bennett's family, these changes come too late to prevent an unimaginable loss.
