A mother's kiss could have accidentally led to the death of her 11-day-old baby. Jennifer Schofield's vital organs failed after being infected with Herpes Simplex Virus passed on through a cold sore. Her mother, Ruth, had felt ill a few days before giving birth last November and was later treated for mouth ulcers. The condition's believed to kill six babies a year in the UK. Recording a narrative verdict at the inquest into Jennifer's death, Dr James Adeley said Miss Schofield, 35, probably caught HSV in the late stages of her pregnancy. Miss Schofield, of Lancaster, said: "I have been left totally devastated and heartbroken by the death of Jennifer. It's more than a year since she died but the pain has not lessened." She has written to Prime Minister Gordon Brown and her local MP to ask for greater awareness to be publicised in clinics over the virus. She added: "More needs to be done as this can happen to anyone without them knowing about it." http://uk.news.yahoo.com/4/20090227/tuk-mother-s-kiss-killed-newborn-tot-dba1618.html
It's just one of those things you don't expect to happen, knowing that your kissed killed your child, that's a huge guilt that will haunt any mother for life.
kiss of death :( terrible for the mother though. going to be hard for her knowing that she may be responsible for the death of her baby >.<
Sigh .. it's sad that baby is dead but I can't imagine how the mother would feel after learning it was her who killed her baby. I agree; it will haunt her for the rest of her life regardless of whether she knew about it or not. People may forgive you but you can never forgive yourself.
as it was a baby i would say it was an "unfortunate" way to die rather than a stupid way as the baby had no say in what happened.
ulcer ftl, i have those so often too better not give any babies "congrats of coming to this world "kisses
Glad you posted this. If the baby is sick, send them to the doctors ASAP. I wonder if the mother hesitated. To a baby, even a slight fever is a big deal.
