A MOTHER took crack cocaine the day before she went into labour and gave birth to a baby girl who later died, and inquest heard.

Coroner Alan Walsh said drugs and alcohol did not play a part in the death of Ameerah Allport-Khan who had less than a five per cent chance of survival after she was diagnosed with a severe congenital abnormality. However he took the opportunity to warn pregnant mothers of the risks associated with their use.

Kirbie Allport, of Hurst Street, in Morris Green, Bolton, who went into labour three weeks early on September 1 last year, had taken crack cocaine and alcohol throughout her pregnancy, the inquest heard.

Mr Walsh said: “Ameerah’s death did not arise from the use of drugs or alcohol and I am making that quite clear. However I must warn that people who take drugs are at a high risk of still birth, they risk babies being born small and premature and problems in babies development.

“Anyone that has the great good and fortune of being pregnant, because it is not something that can be enjoyed by all, should never risk their pregnancy by the use of drugs.

“Drugs in Ammerah’s case did not cause her death and she would likely have died from the congenital abnormality.

“But a pregnancy should be treasured, it is a gift and should not be put in jeopardy.”

On the day of her daughter’s birth, Miss Allport had stayed with a friend, in Southend Street, and went into labour at 6.10am. She rang an ambulance, which arrived minutes later, but she gave birth at the house.

A rapid response team was already working to resuscitate Ameerah when paramedic Donna Thomas arrived. She said: “There wasn’t any sign of breathing but there was initially a heartbeat but it was less than 50, which is not a sustainable rate for life. When we got into the ambulance to take her to hospital there was no heartbeat at all.”

Ameerah was pronounced dead at Royal Bolton Hospital at 7.06am. Obstetrician and gynaecologist Andrew Muotune saw Miss Allport at 21 weeks and said there were “significant abnormalities” with her unborn baby, which he believed were related to her heart.

A severe hernia in her diaphragm was diagnosed by Dr Chibuike Iruloh at 29 weeks and Miss Allport was offered a termination, which she refused. In a statement read out in court, in her absence, she said: “Ameerah was a baby that both me and my partner wanted. She would have been loved.”

Midwife Nicolette Parkinson said Miss Allport led a “very chaotic lifestyle” and would regularly “disappear” and miss appointments, including ones with Bolton Integrated Drugs and Alcohol Service. Mr Walsh said Ameerah’s death was one of natural causes.