The newborn was delivered at home around 16 weeks early and was taken to hospital where he sadly died – with antenatal cocaine exposure found to have contributed to his death
A baby boy tragically died just hours after being born prematurely, following his mum’s use of cocaine during pregnancy, an inquest heard.
The newborn was delivered at around 24 weeks’ gestation – around 16 weeks early – at his mother’s home in Builth Wells, Pwys, mid Wales. Despite paramedics rushing to the scene, the baby’s condition did not improve and he was later pronounced dead at Prince Charles Hospital in Methyr Tydfil.
Pontypridd Coroner’s Court was told that the baby’s mother had tested positive for cocaine use during her pregnancy and had shown “minimal engagement antenatally (before birth),” Wales Online reports.
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Coroner Rachel Knight told the hearing: “His arrival was unexpected and, following his delivery, emergency services were called and attended swiftly. Despite their best efforts, sadly [the baby’s] condition did not improve and he died later the same day at Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil.”
Recording her conclusion, the coroner said: “[The baby’s] mother had tested positive for cocaine use during her pregnancy, and there had been minimal engagement antenatally (before birth). Post-mortem testing showed that [the baby’s] mother had been suffering with an amniotic fluid infection. It is unclear to what extent these factors each contributed to his premature birth and death.”
The medical cause of death was recoreded as prematurity with secondary causes of amniotic fluid infection and antenatal cocaine exposure.
