Mother pleaded for life in home birth tragedy
“Nick I'm telling you, you need to call an ambulance, I'm going to die.”
Those were the panicked last words of Caroline Lovell, who died after the home birth of her daughter in 2012.
The tragic details were revealed during an inquest into her death, which resumed at the Victoria Coroners Court on Tuesday.
The court heard evidence from paramedic Marie Daley who was called to Ms Lovell’s Melbourne home after she lost consciousness.
She said Nick Lovell had told her his wife had grabbed him by the shirt, looked him in the eye and pleaded for her life.
He said he had replied "No" and started "sobbing uncontrollably."
Last year, the inquest heard evidence that Gaye Demanuele, the midwife who helped deliver Ms Lovell’s baby, had mistakenly thought the 36-year-old was panicking when she began hyperventilating.
Specialist obstetrician Dr John Campbell said her response was “significantly” below standard.
He testified that the classic symptoms of blood loss were anxiety, agitation and shortness of breath.
Dr Campbell revealed he had previously complained about Ms Demanuele to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority but was told that because she was unregistered they could not take action against her.
Dr Campbell told the inquest Ms Lovell had most likely died from a postpartum hemorrhage.
The court heard Ms Demanuele was not told Ms Lovell had suffered the same complication during the birth of her first daughter but did know she had undergone two operations and a uterine fibroid.
Ms Demanuele still did not seek outside medical advice.
"Caroline was a well-informed woman,” Ms Demanuele said in court last year.
“She had taken the responsibility on herself to inform herself. She was happy to hear my advice and she made choices.
"She desired to birth her baby gently. She didn't feel she was endangering herself."
The inquest continues.
