A mother whose newborn baby passed away just a week after birth recounted the distressing moment when the infant, described as “blue and floppy,” was placed on her chest by a midwife who cheerfully exclaimed, “There’s your baby.” The tragic incident occurred at University College Hospital in central London on October 26, 2022, following complications during a planned home delivery conducted by the Edgware Midwives team from Barnett Hospital.
During an inquest at Barnet Coroner’s Court, it was revealed that the mother, Gemma Lomas, was not properly informed about the risks associated with a natural delivery after having undergone a previous cesarean section for the birth of her first child. Ms. Lomas expressed that the midwives’ response was slow when the baby, named Poppy Hope Lomas, was born in a critical condition.
In a statement delivered by her lawyer, Teresa Hargreaves, Ms. Lomas described the distressing moment when the midwife handed her the lifeless baby, expressing her concerns about the lack of urgency in the midwives’ actions. She also mentioned her trust in Alice Boardman, the head midwife who encouraged her to pursue a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) at home, despite the risks associated with her previous C-section.
According to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), VBACs should ideally take place in a well-equipped delivery suite with immediate access to cesarean resources. Poppy’s parents, Gemma and Jason Lomas, from Enfield, north London, attended the inquest where they heard heartbreaking details of the events leading to their daughter’s tragic passing.
Following the delivery, Poppy was rushed to University College Hospital by ambulance after the midwives advised Mr. Lomas to call emergency services. Tests revealed that Poppy had suffered significant oxygen deprivation, leading to severe brain damage. Despite efforts to save her, the infant’s condition deteriorated, and she passed away seven days after birth when life support was withdrawn.
The inquest also highlighted the dismissal of Ms. Lomas’s complaints about pain from her previous C-section scar by the attending midwives. Ms. Lomas expressed her discomfort during the procedure and emphasized the importance of proper monitoring and care during childbirth, especially for women with uterine scars.
The tragic loss of Poppy, who was healthy throughout the pregnancy, has left the family devastated, with Ms. Lomas struggling to come to terms with the events that transpired in their own home. The inquest has been adjourned to gather further evidence from the Edgware Midwives team involved in the delivery process.
