‘Gentle, kind and beautiful’ mother, 23, died just six weeks after giving birth to her second child, inquest hears

A young mother who suffered from anorexia died just six weeks after giving birth to her second child, an inquest has heard.

Amelia Smith, from Kirkby, Merseyside, is described by her loved ones as ‘gentle, kind and beautiful’.

After welcoming her daughter Poppy into the world on October 1, 2021, she sadly passed away on November 14 of that year.

At an inquest held at Bootle Town Hall on Wednesday, coroner Graham Jackson said the 23-year-old beautician had suffered from anorexia for a ‘long period’.

Miss Smith also suffered from low potassium levels and was admitted to hospital and treated by doctors with an IV drip while pregnant with Poppy. She was also given potassium tablets to take orally at home, the inquest heard.

After welcoming her daughter Poppy into the world on October 1, 2021, Amelia Smith sadly passed away on November 14 that year

The inquest heard how Miss Smith and her partner, Tom Mooney, had gone out for dinner on November 13. They returned home and Miss Smith had complained of a ‘stomachache’.

This was not unusual due to Miss Smith’s eating disorder, but this stomach ache was different from the previous ones, the inquest heard. But the couple felt no medical attention was needed at the time and Miss Smith put it down to a recent birth.

During the inquest, Mr Mooney said the couple had gone to bed just after midnight on November 14 and his girlfriend’s stomach pains had disappeared. In the early hours, Miss Smith had woken up to feed baby Poppy before going back to bed.

At 7.30am that day, Mr Mooney said he heard a ‘deep gasp’ from Miss Smith, which he said sounded like an exhalation and thought his partner was in a ‘deep sleep’. The two children were both awake at this stage and Tom went to look after them and thought his partner was sleeping in.

Around 8:45 a.m., Mr. Mooney sent their son Lucas upstairs to wake his mother. However, Mr Mooney said Lucas only got halfway up the stairs, which was “not normal for him to do that”, and said at that point he “knew something was going on”.

Mr. Mooney went upstairs and saw Miss Smith unresponsive. He immediately called emergency services and performed CPR while waiting for paramedics to arrive.

Despite the best efforts of emergency services, Miss Smith was pronounced dead.

The inquest heard that Miss Smith had a history of low potassium levels and was treated for this with an intravenous potassium drip on September 22 that year. She had gone to hospital after experiencing symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.

Mrs Smith suffered from low potassium levels and was hospitalized and treated by doctors with an IV drip while pregnant with Poppy

The inquest heard how Miss Smith and her partner, Tom Mooney (pictured together), had gone out for dinner the day before her death and she had complained of a ‘sore stomach’.

She was seen by consultant Mark Clement-Jones, a midwife at Liverpool Women’s Hospital, who after an examination booked Miss Smith for an induction on September 29. He noticed her low potassium levels and thought this could possibly be a kidney problem.

The court heard how Dr Clement-Jones began investigating the issue at his clinic after Miss Smith gave birth. She was given potassium tablets and discharged the next day as doctors deemed she was not in grave danger and it was safe for her to go home.

On September 29, Miss Smith returned to Liverpool Women’s Hospital to be induced and Poppy was born on October 1. On October 3, Miss Smith was discharged home and placed in the care of community midwives.

Mr Jackson said Miss Smith was informed that she had to take the potassium tablets and go to Dr Clement-Jones’ clinic.

There were no concerns from midwives and health visitors after Miss Smith was discharged home after Poppy’s birth until the time of her death, the inquest heard. The mother of two children was also not worried.

Amelia Smith suffered from low potassium levels and was hospitalized and treated by doctors with an IV drip while pregnant with Poppy. Pictured with her son Lucas

Young mother Amelia Smith, who suffered from anorexia, died just six weeks after giving birth to her second child. Pictured with her partner Tom Mooney

A toxicology report found that Ms. Smith had no signs of alcohol or drugs, including prescription drugs, in her system at the time of her death.

Recording a narrative conclusion, Mr Jackson said: ‘Amelia died of natural causes most likely caused by a sudden arrhythmic cardiac event with a morphologically normal heart.

‘This could possibly be caused by anorexia nervosa [she suffered with] for an extended period and feeling unwell during her pregnancy.’

When he died, Mr Mooney said: ‘She was like the glue that held us all together, she did everything.’

Miss Smith’s friend Lucy Grayson-Maguire, who has a GoFundMe page described her fellow esthetician at the time as a “gentle, kind, beautiful soul who could light up a room with her amazing smile and presence.”

Anyone needing support with eating disorders or body image issues is encouraged to contact BEAT on 0808 801 0677.