Near Fougères: a pregnant woman and her child die after a home birth

A pregnant woman diedas well as her child, this Friday, November 17, when she was supposed to give birth at home from Le Loroux, near Fougères (Ille-et-Vilaine).

Aged 37, she was waiting for her first childand had decided to give birth at home under the supervision of a liberal midwife, who followed the couple since the start of the pregnancy.

Discomfort and cardiac arrest

“On Friday, November 17, after contractions since the beginning of the morning, the midwife came to the home around 12:30 p.m.,” specifies Philippe Asruc, public prosecutor of Rennes, to The Republican Chronicle.

But at the end of the afternoon, the mother-to-be is victim of discomfort, leading to cardiac arrest.

The midwife then “calls on the firefighters to organize the transfer to the Fougères maternity ward”.

They, called at 5:58 p.m., transferred her to the emergency room of Fougères hospital, in the presence of the SMUR (Mobile Emergency and Resuscitation Structure).

An emergency cesarean section

On arrival at the hospital, a cesarean section is performed urgently to try to save the baby. But the child does not survive.

“Given the mother’s condition, a transfer to the Pontchaillou University Hospital (Rennes) is decided,” continues the prosecutor.

But she dies in the emergency vehicle, before he had time to leave Fougères hospital.

An open investigation

An investigation “in search of the causes of death” was opened by the Rennes public prosecutor’s office and was entrusted to the Fougères gendarmerie brigade. “A double autopsy was ordered,” adds Philippe Astruc.

“This family had recently arrived in the town,” specifies Jean-Claude Brard, mayor of Le Loroux.

“These deaths are not usual,” responded David Chambon to our colleagues from France 3. “Psychological support will be offered at the Fougères hospital. » The director adds that what is necessary will be done to determine the exact circumstances of these two deaths.

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