A YOUNG woman who died days after childbirth had been "incredibly happy" as she went into labour, an inquest heard today.

Jasmine Pickett, 29, died of pneumonia at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester on December 24, 2007, three days after giving birth, the hearing was told this morning.

Hampshire Chronicle: Hospital Inquests Coverage

Another woman, Amy Kimmance, 39, who also gave birth at the same hospital on the same day, died on December 23.

The inquest into the deaths is being held in Winchester and is excepted to last all week.

Both women died after contracting streptococcal infections.

Mrs Pickett, of Pennington Close, Colden Common, died of severe pneumonia and Mrs Kimmance, of Milnthorpe Lane, Winchester, died of toxic shock syndrome.

Today midwife Lorraine Edwards told the inquest she cared for Mrs Pickett in the maternity unit at the hospital on the day before she gave birth.

There appeared to be no major problems.

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Mrs Edwards said Mrs Pickett was "incredibly happy and looking forward to having her baby. Understandably, she was a little bit nervous about going through labour but happy as well."

She said there was no evidence Mrs Pickett was suffering cold-like symptoms.

Another midwife, Diane Rutinsky, saw Mrs Pickett and her husband David in the maternity unit on December 17.

She said: "They were a very happy couple holding hands and smiling. They seemed very much in love and excited about the baby."

Central Hampshire coroner Grahame Short said he will hold the inquest into Mrs Pickett's death first and then will start Mrs Kimmance's on Wednesday.

Verdicts in both will be given on Friday.

Mr Short said: "I am very conscious of the tragedy which has befallen the two families involved. It is not just two husbands who have lost wives, it is parents who have lost a daughter and the children who will no longer have a mother because of these deaths.

"On the other hand we should not forget the effect these deaths have had on the midwives and medical staff who cared for Jasmine and Amy before they died.

"The purpose of these inquests is not to apportion blame and find fault. No one is on trial, not the NHS or the system itself.

"The purpose is to establish the facts so we understand how it happened and to learn lessons on how to prevent a recurrence."

The hearing continues.