Two women, aged 41 and 51, have been charged with manslaughter following the death of a baby during a home birth on the New South Wales mid north coast. The incident occurred on September 11, 2022, when emergency services were called to a residence in Karangi, located northwest of Coffs Harbour, after the newborn boy was found unresponsive. Paramedics attempted to revive the baby before he was airlifted to Coffs Harbour base hospital, where he sadly passed away.

According to the police, the younger woman, aged 41, was acting as an unregistered midwife at the time of the birth, while the older woman, with no medical qualifications, was also involved in unregistered home-birth midwifery. On February 11th of the same year, detectives apprehended the 41-year-old woman in Crescent Head and the 51-year-old in Dorrigo. They were subsequently taken to local police stations and charged with manslaughter.

The women appeared in Coffs Harbour local court on Wednesday in relation to the baby’s death. They were granted bail and the case was adjourned to the same court on May 13.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/mar/13/coffs-harbour-midwives-court-home-birth-death-baby-ntwnfb