Chelsea McGillivray, a first-time mother from South Lanarkshire, experienced an unexpected cardiac event while in labour earlier this week. She was admitted to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow after her waters broke at full term. Although her pregnancy had progressed normally with all prenatal tests showing no complications and no underlying health conditions, she suffered a sudden medical emergency while preparing to give birth. Emergency medical teams immediately administered CPR, but resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful.
Despite the circumstances of his birth, her son Tommy was delivered safely and spent time in the neonatal intensive care unit for monitoring before being discharged to his father Jack two days later. The infant is now home and in good health. Family members described Chelsea as vibrant and engaged, noting her enthusiasm for motherhood through the preparations she had made, including a baby shower, gender reveal, and personalised nursery decor.
According to data from MBRRACE-UK, the official body auditing maternal and infant deaths, 252 women in the UK died during pregnancy or in the weeks following childbirth from 2022 to 2024. This represents a rate of 12.8 deaths per 100,000 women giving birth. The overall maternal death rate during this period was 20% higher than rates recorded from 2009 to 2011.
The family has established a fundraiser to support Jack during his bereavement and paternity leave, as he is self-employed. The campaign has raised more than £85,000. Family members have emphasised that Tommy represents hope during their grief and that they intend to honour Chelsea’s memory by celebrating her son’s arrival as she would have wished.
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