Company director’s wife, 30, hanged herself in her bathroom after postnatal depression left her wrongly fearing social services would take away her newborn baby
- Magdalena Honour had been ‘blooming’ in days before daughter was born
- But after became depressed and worried she was not breastfeeding her right
- On February 24, she was found dead in bathroom by mother-in-law, Louise
- At the time her husband, Tom, was serving as best man at a friend’s wedding
- Coroner Chris Morris recorded a verdict of suicide at the court in Stockport
A company director’s wife hanged herself after a severe bout of post-natal depression that left her wrongly fearing the authorities would take away their newborn baby, an inquest heard yesterday.
Former beauty therapist Magdalena Honour, 30, had been ‘blooming’ in the days before her daughter was born but after the birth began to worry she couldn’t cope when breastfeeding her.
Mrs Honour was given anti-depressant medication, but her family claimed healthcare professionals were either ‘dismissive’ or regarded her a ‘nuisance’ and she began to self-harm.
Former beauty therapist Magdalena Honour, 30, (left, and right, with her husband Tom) had been ‘blooming’ in the days before her daughter was born but became depressed afterwards
Last February 24, just seven weeks after the child was born, she was found hanged in the bathroom of her home in Bredbury, Greater Manchester, by her mother-in-law.
At the time her husband Tom, also 30, who runs a powder coating company, was serving as best man at a friend’s wedding. He was too upset to attend the inquest.
Polish born Mrs Honour met her husband through friends in 2010 and married six years later.
Louise Honour, her mother-in-law, told the Stockport hearing: ‘She was an extremely positive, warm and generous person who loved to travel and was very family orientated, and loved her family.
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Louise said Mrs Honour had a ‘wonderful time’ during the pregnancy’ and ‘really looked forward’ to having her baby.
‘On 6th January her daughter was born and there were no physical problems with the pregnancy and they were allowed back home the next day,’ she said.
‘For the first couple of days Magdalena was just tired due to having a new baby – but she got more anxious and hyper vigilant.
‘Initially she was breast feeding and thought she was doing it for too long or not enough. She would be sitting upright and couldn’t relax. She had a look of worry on her face at all times.’
Mrs Honour (seen with Tom) was given anti-depressant medication, but her family claimed healthcare professionals were either ‘dismissive’ or regarded her a ‘nuisance’
Mrs Honour then phoned the health visitor herself in a ‘very distressed state’ and said she was ‘underfeeding and over-feeding her baby’
After a few days, Mrs Honour stopped communicating with friends and was given anti-depressants by her GP.
But after her condition deteriorated, Louise phoned the GP to organise another appointment.
‘I voiced my concerns about her deteriorating mental state,’ she said. ‘They give her some tablets to sleep as she was absolutely exhausted.
‘The GP said “get her to see me sooner” but he was dismissive of my concerns. I wasn’t listened to.’
The inquest heard Mrs Honour cut her wrist on February 18 and was referred to a RAID mental health team, which referred her to a psychiatrist over fears for her wellbeing, while also starting a course of ‘home treatment’.
But this had little impact on her wellbeing, according to Louise.
‘I think she had lost insight into how she was. Her beliefs became very fixed, about being able to look after her daughter,’ she said.
The inquest heard Mrs Honour cut her wrist on February 18 and was referred to a RAID mental health team, which referred her to a psychiatrist over fears for her wellbeing
Polish born Mrs Honour met her husband through friends in 2010 and married six years later
‘She was concerned she would be taken from her, and me and Tom would be in trouble.
‘A health visitor did come after she cut her wrist but came only once that week – it was grossly inadequate.’
Mrs Honour then phoned the health visitor herself in a ‘very distressed state’ and said she was ‘underfeeding and over-feeding her baby’.
‘The heath visitor was trying to get her off the phone like she was a nuisance. She was unable to relax at all – she looked tormented,’ Louise continued.
GP Robert Beardsell told the hearing: ‘Magdalena (pic) was very anxious about the baby and kept checking she was breathing. I would agree she was in a hyper vigilant state’
‘Her beliefs were getting very fixed over a delusional matter and she wasn’t making sense.
‘We talked about bottle feeding and she had to stop breast feeding due to medication.
‘She was very worried about things being contaminated. She started to talk about that she wasn’t sleeping but she was.’
Mrs Honour was given diazepam and more tablets to help her sleep.
During the night Mr Honour was away at the wedding, Louise agreed to stay over.
‘I told her that there’s no way we could manage without her and we have got a beautiful little girl,’ she said.
‘I said her sister-in-law was coming from Poland on the Tuesday and we would get her through this.’
But in the morning, Louise found her dead after she became concerned about the length of time she was in the bathroom and used a 5p piece to open the lock.
GP Robert Beardsell told the hearing: ‘Magdalena was very anxious about the baby and kept checking she was breathing. I would agree she was in a hyper vigilant state.
Recording a verdict of suicide, Coroner Chris Morris said Mrs Honour was a ‘vibrant and energetic person who had lots to live for’
‘Her sleeping was very poor but at the time I had no concerns over her harming herself.
‘She was suffering with post-partum depression with anxiety known as “baby blues’’ but I was concerned enough that she needed treatment.
‘I gave her medication to help but she didn’t want to take it because of the breast feeding.’
Dr Beardsell said he spoke on the phone with Mrs Honour on February 16.
Mrs Honour was said to be delighted at the thought of having a child but became depressed afterwards
‘She told of her anxiety and the lack of sleep but there was no information about suicidal thoughts. I believe I did listen,’ he said.
‘The bond is important from breast feeding so I felt it was important for her to continue. I didn’t get a strong sense that she was suffering with psychosis or illusions.’
Health visitor Hazel Wilson said: ‘There were no concerns from me about weight gain or feeding but she needed more support to settle the baby and needed reassurance about her ability with the baby, and suffering with depression and anxiety.
‘I invited her to a baby clinic and breast feeding group. It was to reassure her that she was caring for the baby effectively. I was concerned that she was suffering with post-natal depression but the training I have in mental health is not what the home service can offer.’
Anna Roy, a doctor in the home treatment team assessed Mrs Honour four days before her death, said: ‘She had a cut on her wrist but she was answering all questions appropriately.
‘She was glad to be alive and a very stupid thing that she did on her wrist. I thought she was depressed but did not pose as suicidal and did not seem at risk of further self-harm. The immediate strategy was to help her cope at home.’
Mrs Honour and her husband Tom – who is a company director – sit down together during an event
And Michael Hughes a care coordinator in the Stockport RAID team added: ‘I was under the opinion that she presented as an ongoing risk to herself, but the strong family support network she had was good.
‘There was no violent risk to the child, we just wanted to help her which in turn would help the child. We referred her to a psychiatrist.’
Recording a verdict of suicide, Coroner Chris Morris said Mrs Honour was a ‘vibrant and energetic person who had lots to live for’.
‘She looked forward to life as a mother and having a family,’ he said. ‘I am quite sure for the same amount I have heard about her she would have made a brilliant one. I can’t imagine how devastating this must have been.’
For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details.
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