A 6-month-old baby tragically died next to mother who drank ‘two or three’ bottles of wine, according to The Sun.
The child, identified only as Baby A, was found unresponsive by the father when he returned home from work.
According to safeguarding, the mother – who also had a toddler – had a history of ‘chaotic alcohol abuse.’
The same report also said that the child had suffered a ‘preventable harm’ and had ‘died from oxygen deprivation to the brain as the result of unsafe sleeping with neglect a significant feature of the case.’
After the baby’s tragic death, the mother said she had drunk up to three bottles of wine before falling asleep while holding her baby.
The woman had received medication for anxiety and depression between her pregnancies but stopped when she found out that she was expecting Baby A.
After giving birth, the woman was prescribed medication for low mood and anxiety. She told doctors that she was struggling to cope with taking care of both her toddler and newborn.
At one point, her sister reported her and her children missing after she drove them in the car while under the influence of alcohol.
A meeting found that professionals had accepted the ‘mother’s script’ about her drinking habits on face value and ‘some information which could have challenged that view was not shared fully across all agencies.’
It reportedly found: “Had the information that emerged after Baby A’s death been fully shared beforehand it could well have shaken the confidence of professionals that this baby was safe and led to more assertive safeguarding action.”
One lesson identified was that professionals shouldn’t rely on the carer’s explanation about the frequency and amount of drug or alcohol use.
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