Warning: This post deals with suicide and may be triggering for some readers.
Carla Murtagh was a mum of seven, and had just discovered she was pregnant with her eighth child.
On November 6, 2016, the 34-year-old took her own life as her family prepared to celebrate a birthday, the Birmingham Mail reports.
An inquest into her death a Birmingham Coroner’s Court was told that Carla had decided to terminate her eighth pregnancy after she learned she was pregnant again.
"We were shocked because it wasn't planned," her husband Matthew told the inquest.
"She considered having an abortion because we already had so many children.
"She was upset, and we were discussing how we were going to have another baby."
Carla consulted with her GP, and told him she wanted an abortion. After being told she wasn't able to get an appointment in her home town, a midwife was later able to arrange an appointment.
"She wanted a termination. She was very unsure about her dates of the pregnancy," midwife Donna Grey said.
"After the consultation, she said, 'Thank you. You've given me what I've been asking for, for a long time'."
But two days before her death, Carla - who had previously struggled with depression - told Donna she had decided to keep the baby after a "family discussion".
Matthew told the court his wife woke up in a "bad mood" on the day of her death, but otherwise seemed fine.
After returning from buying a birthday cake at the store with two of his children, Carla headed to another room.
LISTEN: Mamamia Out Loud discusses the complexities on reporting on suicide in the media.
"She ... told me that she wanted to be left alone," he said.
"I went ... to dish up the dinner and went to get her."
After noticing his wife had been "acting quiet", Matthew discovered his wife's body, and began CPR as paramedics arrived.
She was taken to Heartlands Hospital, where doctors performed an emergency caesarean on Carla, who was then 25 weeks pregnant.
The baby was stillborn, and Carla was pronounced dead a short time later.
An investigation into her death found there were no failures on the part of her GP or midwives in relation to her death.
"This is a tragedy, and for the family I am so very sorry. It is very sad and you have had to sit through some difficult evidence," Coroner Louise Hunt said at the conclusion of the inquest.
"In time I hope you can remember the Carla you all loved and not in the sad way that she lost her life."
If you or a loved one is suffering from depression, Mamamia urges you to contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.
Top Comments
This is just the saddest story. Only that poor woman knows what was truly in her heart and mind at the time.
One thing I don't understand is this. She asked for an abortion and got the go ahead, but told the midwife, TWO days before her death, that she decided to go through with the pregnancy. At this point she was obviously already at 25 weeks. Even if she was unsure about her dates of pregnancy as the midwife said, an ultrasound would have cleared up how far along she was. This story raises more questions than it answers.
I truly feel so sad also for the kids, especially the one whose birthday was coming up (the birthday cake she bought) because that kid's birthday date will forever be tied to their mum's death. Tragic all around.
This seems like such a tragedy, seems she was too far along for them to do anything about it, still if she was through with having children, why didn't he have the snip rather than relying on contraception. I'm also confused about the 'family discussion' comment, what does her family have to do with it, it's her choice, no one elses.