Second Midwife Charged in Australian Homebirth Death

0:00It's April 10th. You're listening to Sydney News today, AI-powered local news. A second midwife faces manslaughter charges in the tragic death of a newborn during a home birth gone wrong on Australia's New South Wales North Coast. Jordan, Michaela Holland, got arrested last Friday, joining another midwife already charged in the same case from October 2024 near Newcastle. The trouble started on October 2nd when a private midwife showed up at the mom's home to help with labor. For the next two days, complications arose, but the midwife allegedly ignored warning signs and the woman's pleas to head to the hospital. By October 4th, the mom finally made it to John Hunter Hospital for an emergency caesarian. Both she and the baby boy suffered serious health issues, and sadly, the infant passed away six days later on October 10th. Last August, 36-year-old Oya Bola Coxon became the first charge with manslaughter and reckless grievous bodily harm after police dug deeper.

1:00Into the incident, Holland appeared in Bail Corps Friday, but got denied release. These cases highlight risks in planned home bursts where midwives handle low intervention deliveries outside hospitals. Both women have upcoming court dates, with no pleas entered yet as investigations continue.