Home UK Heartbroken mum wakes to find six-week-old son dead next to her

Heartbroken mum wakes to find six-week-old son dead next to her

428
0

author image

A devastated mother has told how she woke to find her six-week-old son unconscious and face down beside her.

Rowan Leach, 20, accidentally fell asleep while feeding her beautiful baby boy Hadley, only to find he wasnt moving when she woke up.

Winchester Coroners Court heard Hadley was not breathing when his mother woke at around 8am on September 10, last year.

Ms Leach immediately rang 999 and began performing CPR before paramedics arrived and rushed her six-week-old to hospital.

Pictured: Rowan Leach with baby Hadley. A 'deeply heartbroken' mother has warned of the horrific consequences of co-sleeping with young babies after the death of her six-week-old son. An inquest heard how Rowan Leach, 20, accidentally fell asleep while feeding her 'beautiful baby boy' Hadley, only to find he was unconscious and face down beside her when she woke up. Winchester Coroner?s Court heard Hadley was not breathing when his mother woke at around 8am on September 10, last year. Ms Leach immediately rang 999 and began performing CPR before paramedics arrived and rushed her six-week-old to hospital. SEE OUR COPY FOR DETAILS. Please byline: Family/Solent News ? Family/Solent News & Photo Agency UK +44 (0) 2380 458800

Rowan Leach, 20, accidentally fell asleep while feeding her beautiful baby boy Hadley, only to find he wasnt moving when she woke up (Picture: Solent News & Photo Agency)

However, despite their best efforts Hadley could not be revived and passed away a short time after.

Ms Leach had brought him into her bed from his cot at around 3am for a feed when she felt dizzy and fell asleep.

Hadley had been on his back on his mums pillow when he was being fed, but was found lying on his front when she woke.

NCJ MEDIAPolice launch major search for missing toddler but it turns out to be a hoax

Senior coroner Grahame Short was unable to establish exactly how Hadley, of Southampton, had died but said he had no criticism of Ms Leach as a mother.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Detective Sergeant Matt Parker, who was tasked with investigating the death said he had been called to Southampton General Hospital, but found there were no suspicious circumstances.

And Pathologist Dr Sam Holden told the inquest she was unable to find a definitive cause of death.

Dr Holden added she was unable to say whether Hadley was on his back when he stopped breathing, or whether he had already rolled onto his front.

PERMISSION TO USE, BUT MUST BYLINE ONLINE AND IN PRINT: Sophie Wheeler Photography/Solent News Pictured: Baby Hadley. A 'deeply heartbroken' mother has warned of the horrific consequences of co-sleeping with young babies after the death of her six-week-old son. An inquest heard how Rowan Leach, 20, accidentally fell asleep while feeding her 'beautiful baby boy' Hadley, only to find he was unconscious and face down beside her when she woke up. Winchester Coroner?s Court heard Hadley was not breathing when his mother woke at around 8am on September 10, last year. Ms Leach immediately rang 999 and began performing CPR before paramedics arrived and rushed her six-week-old to hospital. SEE OUR COPY FOR DETAILS. Please byline: Sophie Wheeler Photography/Solent News ? Sophie Wheeler Photography/Solent News & Photo Agency UK +44 (0) 2380 458800

Rowan is now warning other parents about the dangers of co-sleeping (Picture: Sophie Wheeler Photography/Solent)

Recording an open verdict, senior coroner Grahame Short said: I have considerable sympathy for a mother caring for a baby in these circumstances, particularly when they dont have a partner to help.

Addressing Ms Leach, he added: I find there is no criticism of you as a mother.

Following the inquest, Ms Leach said: Although there was no conclusive evidence to suggest bed-sharing impacted on this tragic event, I am hoping more can be done in future to raise awareness of the risks of bed-sharing to prevent any more parents suffering as I have.

The loss of my precious son Hadley has left me deeply heartbroken. I was hoping this inquest would provide me with some answers surrounding his tragic death.

Unfortunately, no conclusion could be reached. However, we do know that it was not accidental and could not have been prevented.

My baby boys life was short but beautiful, all he ever knew was love. We miss and love him more than I can possibly explain.

Advertisement

Advertisement

An average of 133 babies have died each year over the past five years in cases where co-sleeping is a factor, according to Department for Education data.

It revealed a total of 141 children died while co-sleeping in 2017.

Advertisement

Advertisement

[contf]
[contfnew]

METRO

[contfnewc]
[contfnewc]

Previous articleUnicorn Cornettos are the most Instagrammable ice creams around
Next articleFurious family say their Pontins holiday apartment looked like a crack den