A mother who sadly passed away with her newborn baby following a homebirth was a member of an online community led by an individual passionate about ‘sacred chanting and drumming,’ which promotes women taking charge of their pregnancies.
Jennifer Cahill, 34, hailing from Greater Manchester, chose to deliver her daughter without medication and with limited external involvement in June of the previous year, despite medical recommendations.
She passed away in the hospital following a post-delivery hemorrhage that occurred at home. Her newborn baby died in the hospital a few days later.
An inquiry regarding Ms. Cahill’s death this week revealed that she was part of the Home Birth Support Group UK – aFacebooka group consisting of over 14,000 members.
The page, which was run by ‘experienced Doula’ Samantha Gadsden, was closed this week following reports it had been the subject of a police investigation.
Midwives are individuals without medical training who provide emotional, physical, and instructional assistance to women prior to, throughout, and in the immediate period following labor.
They are commonly utilized by women alongside midwives and physicians, with numerous mothers experiencing secure and positive home births.
It is also recognized that no additional police measures are being pursued against the Home Birth Support Group UK following its statement that it does not provide any medical guidance to expectant mothers.
Nevertheless, the Daily Mail can disclose that Ms Gadsden, who charges as much as £1,995 for her Doula service, has been the subject of several contentious social media posts.
In a video shared on her personal Instagram page, Ms. Gadsden informed her followers that “you don’t require approval from a midwife to give birth at home.”
Meanwhile in another post the mother-of-four, compared sending ‘traumatised women back to hospital’ to ‘going back to a restaurant after food poisoning for a second dose.’
“Home birth is not inherently risky, and hospital birth is not inherently secure,” she added in the caption.
Additionally, in the introductory message to her Facebook group, Ms. Gadsden stated that here “we challenge the medical standards within a system that heavily relies on inductions.”
She urged participants to share their childbirth experiences and pose “any questions you may have.”
A social media post revealed by the Daily Mail indicates that Ms. Cahill sought guidance from other members regarding the arrival of her second child.
She mentioned she was “very enthusiastic” about the idea of giving birth at home following her experience of feeling “unsupported” in the hospital when she had her son three years prior.
However, after deciding against giving birth in a hospital, Ms. Cahill became ‘exhausted’ as her contractions grew stronger. Both she and her newborn daughter were taken to the emergency department, but unfortunately, neither could be saved.
Mrs. Cahill experienced a postpartum hemorrhage following her first delivery—a life-threatening situation characterized by significant blood loss.
As a result, physicians recommended that she also deliver her second child in a hospital.
Apart from the Home Birth Support Group UK, Ms Gadsden managed a freebirth forum, which requires women and birth professionals to pay for membership (£50 and £65 respectively).
The team was established during the Covid-19 outbreak as a reaction to an increasing need for home births when numerous hospital trusts ceased providing them.
Members can also purchase merchandise from Ms. Gadsden’s website, with prices varying from £35 for hoodies, £15 for tote bags, and £11 for mugs.
Ms. Gadsden stated, as reported by The Times: “Families, mothers, and infants are not receiving adequate support from NHS maternity services.”
I have established credibility within my community, encouraging them to conduct their own research and reach their own well-informed choices.
She mentioned that her main focus is consistently the safety and emotional and physical health of families, mothers, and their infants.
Ms. Gadsden, residing in Cardiff, has consistently maintained that she does not promote a specific method of childbirth.
She also leads a spiritual chant and drumming group, which she claims “unites the community.”
The organization’s Facebook page has also been removed.
Ms. Gadsden was asked for a statement.
- What caused a mother to choose a home delivery despite medical advice, resulting in a devastating consequence for both her and her infant?
- Why did a loving mother’s decision for a ‘fully natural delivery’ result in a heartbreaking home birth situation?
- Heartbreaking home birth incident: Did Jennifer Cahill’s desire for a ‘natural’ delivery result in an unimaginable double loss?
- What has caused Montana Brown to choose private midwives instead of ‘inexperienced’ NHS care for her bold home birth plan?
- What led to a planned home delivery turning into a tragic loss, prompting desperate parents to demand responsibility?
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