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POLICE are investigating the death of a twin baby boy after a home birth ended tragically.

Police are preparing a report for the Coroner following the home birth, which went wrong last Tuesday morning  in Adelaide, The Advertiser can reveal.

Paramedics were called to the home and rushed the baby to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, where he died the following day.

The baby’s death will renew debate between home birth advocates who argue mothers have a right to choose where they give birth and authorities who claim home births should never be carried out for twins or babies in a breech position.

A police spokesman confirmed officers were preparing a report for the Coroner in regards to the baby boy’s death but would not comment further.

An updated version of SA Health’s policy for planned births at home was released in August 2013 and says they should only be used in cases where there is an uncomplicated, single pregnancy and the baby is in a headfirst position.

Australian Medical Association SA president Janice Fletcher said she was reluctant to speak about the latest case but said it highlighted the dangers posed during childbirth.

“The loss of a child is always a tragedy and our thoughts are with the parents and family who are facing this difficult and very sad time,” Dr Fletcher said.

“Although we like to think of childbirth as a natural process that should go well, there are very real dangers involved in pregnancy and childbirth.”

Our thoughts are with the family at this time. So heartbreaking.

Share your comments below.

Image via shutterstock

  • The risk is higher with twins. They can get tangled up in each other’s cord, one be a lot smaller and weaker than the other. If they are side by side one can cut off the other one’s air supply with his/her little hands.

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  • I understand why some women want to avoid hospital – but it’s so unsafe.

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  • Oh! This is so tragic. In Holland is very common indeed to give birth at home (my husband is Dutch) but I understand that with twins the situation is much more complicated. Poor little boy! :-(

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  • Coming from the Netherlands myself I’m all for home birth. But even in the Netherlands home births for twins or babies in different position or any other complication are not done at home.
    Indeed childbirth is a natural process and in all those may years in the past when childbirth was maybe the only option or done thing many women and children lost their lifes.

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  • Oh no, how heartbreaking. That poor family

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  • My condolences to the family.

    Reply

  • Very heartbreaking. Loss of a child is unimaginable.

    Reply

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