Our Newborn Baby Died Four Years Ago and We Still Don’t Know Why

Our newborn baby died four years – Four years after the tragic loss of their four-day-old son, Jacob Simpson, Kianty and Conor Simpson from Lincolnshire remain unable to fully grasp the sequence of events that led to his passing. The couple has yet to scatter his ashes, as no inquest has been completed and they still lack a formal death certificate for him. Their journey through grief has been prolonged by delays in the official investigation into Jacob’s death, which has left them questioning the circumstances surrounding his birth and subsequent fate.

The Birth of Jacob Simpson

Jacob was born at Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen on June 15, 2022, but his life was cut short due to a critical lack of oxygen to his brain during delivery. The medical team initially reported that the baby was in distress, and after attempts to stabilize him, life support was discontinued days later. The coroner for Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire has since apologized for the delayed inquiry into the incident, stating that the case has been elevated to a “priority” status.

Conor described the moment as one of profound emotional impact, recalling the anguish of removing the baby seat from their car and taking down the ‘baby on board’ sign before heading home. “The whole experience was extremely traumatic,” he said.

Kianty and Conor were living in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, when Conor was deployed to west Wales with the Army, and Kianty became pregnant. To prepare for the arrival of their child, she had set up a hidden camera and recorded a video during dinner, handing Conor a box with a note inside. The note claimed he would be a “great father,” along with baby clothes and Kianty’s positive pregnancy test results. Conor remembered the scene as a moment of joy, where the weight of his worries seemed to dissolve in an instant.

“I’d had a really bad day at work… and all of a sudden, all those worries just vanished. The only thing I was focused on was just being a dad,” Conor reflected.

However, the euphoria was short-lived. Jacob was born pale and bluish, triggering an immediate sense of panic in Conor. “It’s meant to be a happy moment. We were just watching him get resuscitated for 22 minutes, and that was just awful,” he shared. The medical staff had warned them that the baby was critically ill, with a catastrophic lack of oxygen to his brain. Despite resuscitation efforts, Jacob’s condition worsened, and he was transferred to Singleton Hospital in Swansea for further treatment. There, he received cooling therapy to reduce brain swelling, but four days later, his life came to an end.

The Investigation and Delayed Answers

After Jacob’s death, the Simpson family instructed solicitors to help with their case. In June 2024, the Hywel Dda University Health Board suspended its internal investigation under the NHS Putting Things Right process. The probe had previously identified several issues during Kianty’s labor, including poor communication, failure to inform the family of concerns, inadequate fetal monitoring, and a lack of escalation in care. However, the family felt the inquiry had not included independent neonatology expertise to pinpoint the exact cause of Jacob’s demise.

“The staff were incredible. They helped us make some little foot mouldings and we had the opportunity to hold him at the end,” Kianty recalled.

The couple’s emotional journey has been compounded by the ongoing uncertainty. Conor admitted to enduring lasting effects from the traumatic experience, often questioning why such a tragedy had befallen his wife. “Kianty is such a lovely person. I’m just thinking why does it have to happen to her?” he said. One of the most painful moments was when he had to call family to inform them of Jacob’s death, a call he described as the hardest he had ever made.

The Health Board’s Response

Sharon Daniel, executive director of nursing, quality, and patient experience at the Hywel Dda University Health Board, expressed sympathy for the family. “In the event of a serious incident, we have robust processes in place for reviewing the incident internally, identifying any issues, and, where appropriate, preparing an improvement plan to prevent such occurrences in the future,” she stated. The health board also acknowledged negligence in January 2026, admitting that Jacob’s death could have been avoided with better care. This led to a compensation offer in February 2026, which the family declined after a 21-day deadline was set.

Despite the board’s acknowledgment of fault, the Simpson family feels their case has not received the attention it deserves. They continue to seek clarity, hoping the inquest will provide answers that have eluded them for years. “We want to know exactly what happened and why it couldn’t be prevented,” Kianty said, emphasizing the emotional toll of the unresolved situation. The family’s struggle highlights the challenges faced by parents who endure the loss of a child while waiting for official explanations and closure.

As the four-year anniversary of Jacob’s death approaches, the couple remains determined to press forward with their investigation. Their story underscores the importance of transparency in healthcare and the lasting impact of preventable tragedies on families. While the health board has taken steps to address past mistakes, the Simpson family insists that their experience is a reminder of the need for systemic improvements to ensure no other parent faces such a heartbreaking ordeal without answers.

Throughout the years, the family has tried to find meaning in their loss. They have shared their story with friends, family, and even local communities, hoping to raise awareness about the failures that led to Jacob’s death. Yet, the absence of a formal inquest has left them in a limbo of uncertainty, unable to fully move on from the event. For Kianty and Conor, their son’s passing is not just a personal loss but a symbol of the broader challenges in maternal and neonatal care.

The Simpson family’s experience has also sparked conversations about the role of communication and vigilance in birthing units. While they commend the staff for their compassion during the crisis, they believe that more could have been done to detect and respond to Jacob’s condition in a timely manner. Their unresolved case serves as a poignant example of how even the most well-intentioned healthcare providers can fall short in critical moments.

As they await the next steps in their quest for answers, Kianty and Conor continue to live with the memories of their son. They have become advocates for change, hoping their story will inspire others to demand accountability and transparency in the healthcare system. “It’s been four years, and we’re still not closer to understanding what happened,” Conor said, his voice filled with both grief and determination. “But we won’t stop looking for the truth.”