Oyebola Coxon, a 36-year-old midwife and Nigerian influencer has been charged with manslaughter over the death of a baby at Newcastle’s John Hunter Hospital.
Oyebola is said to be privately practising midwife and an advocate for ‘natural’, at-home births,
According to Mail Online, the 36-year-old allegedly ignored signs of complications during the birth and the mother’s pleas to attend the hospital, instead leaving her in labour for two days.
After the woman was taken to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle, the baby boy was delivered by emergency cesarean.
However, police said the mother and newborn both suffered significant medical complications, and the baby died eight days after the attempted home birth.
The police also alleged she did not respond to the earlier requests by the woman to be moved to a hospital.
The Italian-born influencer midwife has long posted on Instagram under the profile Mamma Informata to promote ‘positive births’ and has warned women to resist doctors’ advice.
In other videos, she has encouraged women to give birth at home and alleged that gestational diabetes does not exist and that blood tests and ultrasounds are unnecessary.
Coxon has also sold paid online courses targeted at expectant mothers ‘on preparing for childbirth and breastfeeding’.
However, following a police investigation into the death of the newborn, Coxon was arrested and taken into custody in Wallsend, New South Wales, on August 14.
She was charged with manslaughter and reckless grievous bodily harm.
Although Coxon was granted conditional bail after appearing in court on Thursday afternoon, the conditions include that she must not act, practice or educate any person relating to any birth or pregnancy.
The New South Wales Police Force said that the matter is due to return to court in October 15.
She must also surrender her Italian and Australian passports, and report to Nelson Bay Police Station daily.
