Mother, 31, Dies in Childbirth After 'Textbook' Pregnancy; Newborn Son Survives

A family in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire, has been left heartbroken after a first-time mother died during childbirth following what was described as a "textbook" pregnancy, according to her sister-in-law.

Chelsea McGillivray, 31, passed away on Monday, August 24, after doctors tried "everything they could" to save her when her heart stopped during labour, as recounted by her sister-in-law. The sudden cardiac event occurred while she was at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital giving birth to her son, Tommy.

Her family described it as a "miracle" that Tommy survived, with loved ones saying that holding on long enough to save her newborn son was "the last thing she could do for him," according to Lorna McGillivray, Chelsea's sister-in-law.

Chelsea's long-term partner, Jack Mitchell, 31, is now facing the challenge of raising Tommy alone. Loved ones say "he's a natural" when it comes to parenthood, as reported by family members.

Chelsea's sister-in-law, Lorna McGillivray, 33, described her as the "life and soul of every party" and said she was desperate to become a mum. Lorna told Glasgow Live that Chelsea had shown no signs of any health problems during her pregnancy and had been preparing on the hospital ward when she "crashed suddenly." Lorna recounted: "She got to the labour suite at around 8.30am and Tommy was born at 8.39am. So all of this transpired in nine minutes. They sectioned her and got him out, and then they started CPR. They worked on her for hours, and they had consultants and specialists from all over the Queen Elizabeth and the Jubilee."

Tommy was taken to the NICU after his birth and was discharged from hospital on Wednesday, a moment Lorna described as "bittersweet" amid the family's grief.

The exact cause of Chelsea's death remains unconfirmed. Lorna said: "We know her heart stopped, but we don't know why. She was completely healthy as far as everyone was concerned."

A GoFundMe page launched by Lorna to support Jack and Tommy raised £85,000 at the time of writing, according to the Daily Express. Chelsea, described as a passionate football fan who loved watching Rangers at Ibrox, according to family statements, is remembered by her sister-in-law as "amazing" with an "infectious laugh."