Michelle da Silva died hours after giving birth to baby girl

Published: 12 August, 2010
by JOSIE HINTON

A YOUNG mother tragically died after suffering a spontaneous brain haemorrhage hours after giving birth to a baby girl, an inquest heard.

Michelle da Silva, 27, was nearly seven months pregnant when she collapsed on the bathroom floor of her Maiden Lane home and fell into a coma.

An inquest into her death at St Pancras Coroner’s Court on Tuesday heard that Ms da Silva, a caterer, had suffered a catastrophic bleed in her brain that could not be operated on.

Doctors at University College London Hospital (UCLH) were able to deliver her baby girl by caesarean section, but Ms da Silva failed to recover and died the following day without regaining consciousness.

Giving evidence at the inquest, her partner Thomas Cassidy told the court there had been no warning signs leading up to her collapse at around 11am on June 5.

“She’d just been to visit her mum, they were going shopping,” he said. “She seemed fine.”

Following her sudden collapse Ms da Silva was taken by ambulance to UCLH where a brain scan revealed she had suffered a major bleed. 

She was transferred to the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN) in Queen’s Square in the hope she could undergo brain surgery, but a second scan revealed significant brain swelling.

Neurosurgeons at the hospital decided their was nothing they could do to save the young woman and she was transferred back to UCLH where her baby could be delivered by caesarian section. 

A healthy baby, named Michelle, after her mother, was delivered at 4pm on June 5.

Recording a verdict of natural causes, coroner Dr Andrew Reid said: “Sometimes brain haemorrhages can be related to pregnancy but in this case it appears to be a coincidence.

“There wasn’t any gross lack of care. Quite clearly she received technical and detailed care but unfortunately Grade 4 haemorrhages have a poor prognosis.”

More than 1,000 people have visited an online memorial to pay their respects Ms da Silva. 

A tribute posted by her family said: “Michelle was truly loved by all who knew her, especially her family and friends. 

“To them she was everything and without her we will all have a huge piece missing from our lives. 

“Her one wish has been granted and she has left behind for us the most precious gift, baby Michelle. 

“She is Michelle’s legacy to us and through that tiny angel we have found hope in this time of despair. 

“She was the perfect everything to everyone and will always be. 

“Her smile would light up any room and her memory will live on in all of us.”