A woman whose baby died days after a home birth gone wrong had resisted labour at hospital because of a previous traumatic experience with her eldest child.
Coroner Dimitra Dubrow will hold an inquest into the death of a six-day old baby, known as Baby R.
Baby R was born on August 19, 2022, via an emergency Caesarean at Bendigo Health, in regional Victoria.
His mother initially planned for a home birth, hesitant to go to a hospital again following her traumatic first pregnancy, but as Baby R’s heart rate increased during labour, a decision was made to seek hospital care.
He was born in poor condition, showing signs of a brain injury from reduced oxygen or blood flow.
Baby R later died at Melbourne’s Royal Women’s Hospital.
During a directions hearing on Monday, Ms Dubrow said the scope of the inquest would focus on whether Baby R’s mother was adequately warned of her high-risk pregnancy and if she was told she was an unsuitable candidate for home birth.
She had already undergone an emergency Caesarean and suffered a post-partum haemorrhage following the birth of her first son.
The inquest will also probe midwifery care and communication between practitioners she engaged with.
Ms Dubrow said expert opinions already received by the court highlighted missed opportunities for risk assessment and care escalation.
The inquest is tentatively scheduled for July, with further directions hearings possible.
