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PARENT'S HELL

Coronavirus-hit mum-to-be collapsed and screamed ‘something’s wrong’ before giving birth to baby who died

A MUM-to-be with coronavirus collapsed and screamed "something's wrong" before giving birth to a baby boy who tragically died just three days later.

Coolio Carl Justin John Morgan was born on May 2 at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend but passed away on May 5.

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 Carl Morgan's son died at just three days old when his partner was struck down with coronavirus
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Carl Morgan's son died at just three days old when his partner was struck down with coronavirusCredit: Supplied
 The baby boy was born at The Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend, Wales
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The baby boy was born at The Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend, Wales

The tot's mum Kimberly Phillips, 44, had tested positive for coronavirus just before she gave birth.

His primary cause of death was given as severe Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy, meaning the brain was starved of blood and oxygen.

But "maternal Covid-19" was listed as a secondary cause of death.

The baby's heartbroken dad Carl Morgan today revealed how partner Kimberly had dropped to the ground screaming after being dropped off at the hospital to be induced.

He claims she had told staff "something's not right" and was offered painkillers before collapsing.

Mr Morgan, 49, told The Sun Online: "She took two of the tablets and shortly afterwards collapsed on the floor in agony.
“By now the baby’s head was showing and they had to try and get the baby out quickly, but it was too late for him."

The night before, I’d watched Coolio kicking like mad inside Kim’s tummy. I just can’t believe any of this happened. It is beyond cruel.

Carl Morgan

The dad continued: "The night before, I’d watched Coolio kicking like mad inside Kim’s tummy. I just can’t believe any of this happened. It is beyond cruel.”

The hospital called Mr Morgan at around 1.50am and told him baby Coolio had been taken to Singleton Hospital where he was being treated in intensive care and was not conscious.

Tragically he was told he couldn't hold his newborn son as staff believed he had coronavirus.

He added: "They told me he’d tested positive for coronavirus too, which meant I wouldn’t be allowed to see him or hold his hand.

“The only time I saw him was on the last day of his life. Singleton waited until Kim was well enough to come with me to say goodbye to him, then they turned his machine off."

We both thought we were too old to have children and had given up on the idea, but then our miracle baby came along and we were so excited. But three days later the poor little lad was in a box.

Carl Morgan

The dad, who has two children from a previous relationship, has been with Kimberly for five years and considered Coolio their "miracle baby".

He believes she caught the disease on the maternity ward, which he says was next to a Covid-19 ward "packed" with infected patients.

He said: "We both thought we were too old to have children and had given up on the idea, but then our miracle baby came along and we were so excited. But three days later the poor little lad was in a box.”

An inquest into Coolio's death today heard how the primary cause of death was given as severe hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy, meaning the brain being starved of blood and oxygen.

But "maternal Covid-19" was listed as a secondary cause of death.

Senior coroner's officer Lauren Howitt told the hearing "the mother was found to be Covid-19 positive soon after delivery".

The inquest was opened in Pontypridd but was adjourned to await full results of a post mortem examination into the cause of his death.

Coroner Graeme Hughes said: "I pass on my condolences to the family in these most sad and depressing circumstances."

A final inquest has been scheduled for 28 April 2021.

CORONAVIRUS IN PREGNANCY

There's no evidence that pregnant women are more likely to get seriously ill from coronavirus.

But pregnant women have been included in the list of people at moderate risk (clinically vulnerable) as a precaution.

This is because pregnant women can sometimes be more at risk from viruses like flu.

It's not clear if this happens with coronavirus.

But because it's a new virus, it's safer to include pregnant women in the moderate-risk group.

It may be possible for you to pass coronavirus to your baby before they are born.

But when this has happened, the babies have got better.

There's no evidence coronavirus causes miscarriage or affects how your baby develops in pregnancy.

Source: NHS

WARNING SIGNS

However, experts have warned pregnant women could be at a higher risk of severe coronavirus the closer they get to their due date.

Scientists say that the woman's chest cavity gets smaller during pregnancy due to pressure from the growing womb.

This can leave the lungs with less space to work and often causes breathing difficulties - regardless of Covid-19 - in the third trimester.

Meanwhile, researchers at University of Oxford found expectant mothers are at no greater risk of severe Covid-19 than any other women.

They found 4.9 in every 1,000 pregnant Brits have been admitted with the bug, with one in ten needing intensive care - no worse than for other females.

The UK government has also stated mums-to-be can leave the house.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) say: "As yet, there is no evidence that pregnant women who get this infection are more at risk of serious complications than any other healthy individuals."

It comes after shock figures released yesterday suggested the death toll from the virus could have already topped 40,000 in the UK.

Families have been ripped apart by the bug - with mum Fozia Hanif tragically dying from coronavirus just days after giving birth.

Salina Shaw, 37, also was killed by the virus seven days after she gave birth to a little girl.

Nurse Mary Agyapong also tragically died from coronavirus five days after undergoing emergency c-section.

DEADLY SPREAD

New research has so far found that five pregnant women have died after being admitted to hospital with coronavirus in the UK.

Researchers from the University of Oxford say they were among 427 mums-to-be admitted from March 1 to April 14.

Study leader Prof Marian Knight said the fate of the babies carried by the five women is unknown.

But their analysis does suggest expectant mothers are at no greater risk of severe Covid-19 than any other women.

They found 4.9 in every 1,000 pregnant Brits have been admitted with the bug, with one in ten needing intensive care.

The experts stress this is no worse than for other females.

Pregnant women from black and other ethnic minority groups were more likely to be admitted than those who are white.

Another study suggested three newborns with coronavirus may have got the disease from their mums during pregnancy or childbirth.

Other research has suggested pregnant women could be at a higher risk of severe coronavirus the closer they get to their due date.

Scientists say that the woman's chest cavity gets smaller during pregnancy due to pressure from the growing womb.

The researchers stressed that most pregnant women infected with the virus will experience it as a common cold, with a fever and perhaps a sore throat or dry cough.

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