A coronial hearing in Lismore is investigating the circumstances surrounding an unsupervised home birth near Nimbin last year that resulted in the death of the newborn boy.
The Coroner has heard that the Department of Community Services were advised a Nimbin family were planning what a local GP had judged to be a ‘high risk’ home birth.
The doctor told the couple their baby was in a ‘transverse’ or sideways position, which was later confirmed by a scan.
According to standard medical practice, Caesarean sections births are normally performed on babies in this position.
The Coroner heard that the baby was born feet first and was not breathing. He was taken to Nimbin Hospital where he was put on a ventilator and later transferred to Lismore Base and ultimately Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital but life support was turned off after three days.
The hearing was told the couple had made no arrangements with a midwife to attend the birth or for the baby to be born elsewhere.
Despite the matter being reported to FACS, they never contact the family, the hearing was told.
The mother will give evidence today and the inquest is expected to last another two days.
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