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After Four Miscarriages IVF Brought the Baby Girl She Longed For. Days Later the First-Time Mum Was Dead

Posted on: Thursday, 7 July 2005, 12:01 CDT

Makaila Edwards hardly had a chance to hold her first-born.

The mother, who had four miscarriages, died just five days after finally having the baby she so longed for.

The 31-year-old lost four unborn babies before undergoing successful IVF treatment.

She was booked for a Caesarean delivery at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, but went into labour early.

D'arcy Rose was born naturally but her mother developed complications.

Hospital consultant Dr Jonathan Bambridge said, 'Despite a breach birth the delivery was uneventful.

'But later there was continued blood loss and she became short of breath.'

Makaila, who lived with her husband Darren in their semi- detached home in the Gabalfa area of Cardiff, was transferred to intensive care and then back to a ward to be close to her baby daughter.

But an inquest in Cardiff yesterday heard that her condition deteriorated. It heard Makaila had suffered from pulmonary hypertension - a condition made worse by the stress of giving birth.

Cardiologist Dr Peter Groves told the inquest, 'Her heart rate increased and her oxygen levels were down.

'She had sharp chest pains and she was passing out. The situation was grave.

'Makaila was a very unfortunate lady. She was suffering from pulmonary hypertension which caused a blockage in her heart.

'This was made worse by the fact that she had given birth.'

Dr Anton Simon, an intensive care consultant at the hospital, said, 'This is a situation notoriously difficult to treat.

'She did not have enough oxygen in her blood and she lost consciousness.

'After 20 minutes she had a flat-line cardiac arrest and passed away.'

Makaila died on November 23 last year. She had been admitted to UHW on November 17 and gave birth to D'arcy Rose after her waters broke the next day.

Her condition had been further complicated by a history of hepatitis which affected her liver's ability to produce the chemicals needed to control blood clots.

Dr Peter Collins, a haematologist, told the inquest he gave Makaila anticoagulants to make up for the imbalance in her body.

He said, 'All pregnant women risk getting thrombosis - a potentially fatal blood clot.

'Makaila was given anticoagulants, plasma and extra blood platelets to help cope with the loss of blood.'

Pathologist Dr Deborah Cook said, 'The right side of her heart was grossly enlarged and she had lost a great deal of blood.

'She had cirrhosis of the liver and there were also tiny blood clots found in her lung.'

Cardiff Coroner Dr Lawrence Addicott said, 'Makaila suffered from serious conditions that added extra risks to her pregnancy.

'Treatment given to prevent her blood from clotting caused a dramatic change in her condition.

'She was ill and was extremely courageous for going ahead with the pregnancy.'

Dr Addicott recorded a verdict of death by natural causes, including hypertension and hepatitis, worsened by her pregnancy.

Source: Western Mail

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