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Pathologist warns of marijuana and 'co-sleeping' after death of newborn

Kiya Nadine Hunte was born on April 25, 2014, but passed away in hospital in the early hours on May 9, 2014 after falling ill at her home in Glasvey Rise, Twinbrook in Belfast
Kiya Nadine Hunte was born on April 25, 2014, but passed away in hospital in the early hours on May 9, 2014 after falling ill at her home in Glasvey Rise, Twinbrook in Belfast Kiya Nadine Hunte was born on April 25, 2014, but passed away in hospital in the early hours on May 9, 2014 after falling ill at her home in Glasvey Rise, Twinbrook in Belfast

THE 'unsafe practice' of parents co-sleeping with their infant children was highlighted at an inquest for a two week old baby, who died in 2014.

Kiya Nadine Hunte was born on April 25, 2014, but passed away in hospital in the early hours on May 9, 2014 after falling ill at her home in Glasvey Rise, Twinbrook in Belfast.

The cause of death has been classified as an 'unascertained' Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI), but may have been associated with overlaying or co-sleeping.

Laganside Court heard that Kiya Hunte was a healthy child in her short-life and on the day of her death was breast fed regularly.

Citing mother Shanna Hunte's police statement the court heard that she and the baby's father Ryan McLaughlin left the child sleeping in her Moses basket at around midnight and went downstairs to heat a pizza.

At this point she admitted to smoking half a marijuana cigarette in the back garden.

The court was told that the mother and father lived with the child's paternal grandparents and Mr McLaughlin's brother and all smoked marijuana, with a plant found in the attic of the house.

While feeding the child on the bed the mother said the three fell asleep at 2.30am with the baby in her arms and at 5am woke to find her cold and lifeless.

A blood mark 'the size of a small pancake' was discovered on the bed sheet with the child bleeding from her nose. CPR was administered and the emergency services called.

Pathologist Dr Claire Thornton said that Kiya Hunte had died "suddenly and unexpectedly". Although "small and slight" she said there were no signs of accidental or non accidental injury or infection of any kind.

Dr Thornton said it was "possible" the baby could have been overlaid and suffocated, but "impossible to tell" for certain. She outlined the dangers of co-sleeping calling it an "unsafe practice", especially when mixed with alcohol or drugs. She said the combination of marijuana and co-sleeping presented a "inestimably high risk of SUDI".

The coroner Suzanne Anderson said there was a "very valuable lesson to be learnt" regarding the dangers of co-sleeping.

"Hopefully if your story is heard it will spare another family from a similar tragedy," she said.