First-time mother dies in childbirth
A 31-year-old woman, Chelsea McGillivray, died from an unknown cardiac event during labour after a normal pregnancy. Her healthy son, Tommy, survived.
A first-time mother died during labour last Monday after suffering an unknown cardiac event. Chelsea McGillivray, 31, from Rutherglen, had experienced what was believed to be a textbook pregnancy.
Her family told reporters Drivetime that all prenatal tests were normal and she had no underlying health conditions. "She wasn't unwell - there were no signs of this," said her sister-in-law, Lorna McGillivray.
The labour and emergency
Chelsea's pregnancy was at full term when her waters broke. After an initial check at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, she was sent home. Her contractions then came on quickly.
She returned to the hospital with her partner, Jack, and her mother. "She was in labour pain but she was still in good spirits and cracking jokes," Lorna McGillivray said. When Chelsea was moved to a bed ready to give birth, she suddenly "crashed."
Midwives raised the alarm. Emergency teams began CPR immediately. "She was talking one minute then the next, she wasn't," Lorna said. Doctors were unable to resuscitate Chelsea.
Maternal mortality in the UK
Data from MBRRACE-UK, the official body for auditing maternal and baby deaths, provides context for such tragedies. The figures for 2022 to 2024 show a concerning trend.
| Period | Number of Maternal Deaths | Deaths per 100,000 Women Giving Birth |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-2024 | 252 | 12.8 |
| 2009-2011 | (Baseline) | (Lower rate) |
The overall rate of maternal death in the UK from 2022 to 2024 was 20% higher than the rates from 2009 to 2011.
A family's grief and a new life
Doctors managed to deliver Chelsea's son, Tommy, safely. He was monitored in the neonatal intensive care unit after the traumatic birth but went home healthy two days later.
"Tommy is doing amazing," Lorna McGillivray said. "He's just perfect and he is the light that is keeping us going through all of this." The family is rallying around Jack, Tommy's father, who is now a single parent.
Lorna described Chelsea as a vibrant person who was looking forward to motherhood. She had doted on her nephews and had organised everything for Tommy's arrival, from a baby shower to personalised decor. Jack plans to honour her memory, including following through with a newborn photoshoot Chelsea had booked.
Support for the family
The family has set up a fundraiser so Jack, who is self-employed, can take time off work to be with Tommy. It has raised more than £85,000. Lorna told the BBC this support gives Jack "more time" to grieve and bond with his son without financial pressure.
In a statement, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde offered its heartfelt condolences to Chelsea's family. Lorna McGillivray finds solace in remembering Chelsea's "big smile and dimples." She believes Chelsea held on just long enough to bring Tommy into the world and would want the family to celebrate his life.
