A mother, whose newborn passed away just a week after birth, recounted an unsettling experience during the delivery. Baby Poppy Hope Lomas tragically died at University College Hospital in central London due to complications following a planned home birth. The mother, Gemma Lomas, had opted for a home birth with the Edgware Midwives, the designated team for home births at Barnett Hospital, which is a part of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust.
During an inquest at Barnet Coroner’s Court, it was revealed that Gemma Lomas was not informed about the risks of a natural delivery, despite having previously undergone a caesarean section for the birth of her first child. Ms. Lomas described the distressing moment when midwives were slow to respond as her baby, Poppy, was born in a critical condition.
The head midwife, Alice Boardman, had shown enthusiasm for a vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC) at home, leading Gemma to trust her judgment. However, guidelines from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists suggest that VBACs should ideally take place in a well-equipped delivery suite with immediate access to caesarean delivery resources.
Tragically, Poppy suffered severe oxygen deprivation, leading to irreversible brain damage. Despite efforts to save her, she passed away a week after birth. The inquest also highlighted that midwives had dismissed Gemma Lomas’s complaints about pain from her previous C-section scar, further complicating the situation.
Gemma Lomas expressed her profound grief at losing her healthy baby under such traumatic circumstances at home, a place that should have been safe. The inquest has been adjourned for further evidence from the Edgware Midwives, shedding light on the events surrounding this heartbreaking incident.