A journalist whose baby died after a secret pregnancy has been told that she must tell the authorities if she becomes pregnant again.

Coroner Donald Coutts-Wood told former Ilkeston Advertiser reporter Emma Kerns that he was concerned about the death of her baby daughter, Sian.

The journalist had not told anyone she was pregnant before giving birth alone in her flat in Sheffield in March 2006. The baby died shortly afterwards.

Speaking at the conclusion of the inquest into the death yesterday, the coroner said: “From the evidence I have heard in this matter, I have concerns.

“A coroner, where he believes action should be taken to prevent further deaths, can report his concerns.

“But in this case I do not know who to address the report to. I am unaware of any system that relates to an adult who has free movement being followed.”

He went on to ask Emma and her mother, Susan, to tell doctors of Sian’s death if she became pregnant again.

He said: “Should Emma become pregnant again, we do not know why Sian died.

“It could have been of natural causes and could have been preventable at the time or it could be something else, so I certainly appeal to both of you to ensure that if this should happen, all those appropriate to dealing with somebody who is pregnant are aware of Sian’s death.”

The inquest had earlier heard how Emma had carried the body of her newborn baby in a bag to hospital. She then walked into the hospital, carrying the baby in a towel, asking for help.

Yesterday the coroner recorded a narrative verdict.

He said he was unable to record a verdict of natural causes or another short verdict because a cause of death had not been established by a post mortem examination.

He said: “A placenta was never found and its unavailability for examination is a major reason for the cause of death being unascertainable, as such an examination could have excluded many potential causes.”

The post mortem report could only say there was an “inability to maintain an independent existence at birth”. The coroner said the baby had not been still-born, but died shortly after birth.