A MOTHER who died hours after giving birth to her third child was suffering from massive blood clots she knew nothing about, an inquest heard.

Joanne Jones could only spent a precious 20 minutes cradling her newborn son, Riley, who was born at 36 weeks weighing 5lb 4oz.

Celebrations quickly spiralled into tragedy when the clots moved fatally to her lungs during surgery to remove her placenta.

As a result of her death on August 14, 2013, at the age of 35, University Hospital of North Tees in Stockton has implemented a new assessment form to determine the potential risks of venous thromboembolism (VTE).

Mrs Jones from Hartlepool had been on holiday in Taunton, Somerset, with husband Anthony and daughters Connie and Millie Rose, now 13 and nine, when her waters broke at 32 weeks pregnant.

She spent five days been monitored in hospital before being transferred by ambulance to University Hospital of North Tees in Stockton where she was booked in for an induced birth at 36 weeks.

Following a normal delivery on August 13, 2013, the 35-year-old teaching assistant told her daughters by phone they had a baby brother before being taken to theatre to remove her placenta.

After surgery she suffered the first of several heart attacks and blood transfusions, medics explained at Teesside Coroner’s Court in Middlesbrough.

Jan Lowe, independent pathologist, said the clots were highly likely to have come from the pelvic area or upper thigh but as they were normally “clinically silent” Mrs Jones would have been unaware and therefore no tests would have been performed.

Clare Bailey, acting senior coroner, said during the course of the placenta removal, the clots moved to Mrs Jones’ lungs causing a massive pulmonary embolism, recorded as the medical cause of death.

She said the VTE assessment form has now been changed, which would have taken into account her chronic rheumatoid arthritis and journey from Taunton.

“But the lessons that have been learned would not have necessarily impacted on her situation and she was managed to the best of the doctors ability, I do accept that."

Recording a narrative verdict, she added: “Having considered all the evidence I conclude that Joanne Jones passed away as a result of recognised complications of pregnancy, child birth and necessary surgical intervention.”

A spokesperson for North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust said: “As with all tragic incidents of this nature the trust has vigorously investigated the circumstances of Joanne Jones’ death. We would like to extend our sincere condolences to Joanne’s family.”

Following the inquest Mrs Jones’ devastated family said they had agreed to meet with representatives from the trust to discuss her case in more detail.