Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Claire Coutinho Faces Second Birth After Traumatic First Delivery
Claire Coutinho is a British politician who is expecting her second baby.
Her first childbirth was extremely dangerous for both her and her son, Rafael.
Rafael did not breathe for 15 minutes after he was born.
Coutinho then became seriously ill and needed a medically induced coma.
Doctors are closely monitoring her current pregnancy, which has been smoother so far.
She also made history by leading Prime Minister’s Questions while pregnant.
Before taking maternity leave, she is promoting a report about changing the United Kingdom’s energy plans.
The report says using more nuclear power and gas could make electricity cheaper, while Coutinho says families care greatly about costs.
Claire Coutinho is seven months pregnant with her second child after nearly dying during her first childbirth.
Her first son, Rafael, did not breathe for 15 minutes, while Coutinho later suffered multiple organ failure and a medically induced coma.
She became the first pregnant Conservative leader or stand-in to lead Prime Minister’s Questions.
Before maternity leave, Coutinho is launching an Onward report advocating more nuclear power and gas alongside renewables.
The report claims its energy proposals could save the United Kingdom £320 billion between 2030 and 2050.
- Who
- Claire Coutinho, the Conservative shadow energy secretary, and her family; Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch asked Coutinho to lead Prime Minister’s Questions.
- What
- Coutinho is preparing for the birth of her second child while launching a report challenging the government’s net-zero energy plans.
- When
- She is seven months pregnant; her appearance at Prime Minister’s Questions took place earlier this summer, before her upcoming maternity leave.
- Where
- The political events took place in the United Kingdom, including the House of Commons; the report concerns Britain’s energy system.
- Why
- Coutinho says her pregnancy has been smoother under medical monitoring, while the report seeks what it describes as a cleaner and cheaper energy system.
Coutinho and Onward’s proposal
Existing government net-zero approach
Energy mix
Coutinho and Onward’s proposal
Coutinho and the Onward report argue that the United Kingdom should use more nuclear power and gas alongside renewables, rather than relying heavily on subsidized wind and solar.
Existing government net-zero approach
The report challenges the government’s current net-zero strategy, which Coutinho says places too much emphasis on wind and solar; the article does not provide a detailed government response.
Energy costs
Coutinho and Onward’s proposal
Coutinho argues that a system dominated by wind and solar creates hidden costs through backup generation, grid upgrades and payments to reduce excess renewable output.
Existing government net-zero approach
The government’s approach is presented as the strategy being challenged, but the article does not state its position on the report’s estimated savings.
North Sea production
Coutinho and Onward’s proposal
Coutinho supports continued oil and gas production and says approving one new oilfield would not be enough if restrictions on future licences remain.
Existing government net-zero approach
The article says restrictions on future licences remain part of the policy context but does not give the government’s stated justification.
- Pregnancy
- Coutinho is seven months pregnant with her second child.
- First childbirth
- Her son Rafael did not breathe for 15 minutes after birth, and Coutinho later suffered multiple organ failure.
- Political milestone
- She became the first pregnant Conservative leader or stand-in to lead Prime Minister’s Questions.
- Report publisher
- The energy report is being launched by the right-leaning think tank Onward.
- Energy proposal
- The report advocates greater use of nuclear power and gas alongside renewable energy.
- Estimated savings
- The report claims the proposals could save £320 billion between 2030 and 2050, or about £540 per household annually.
- North Sea policy
- Coutinho supports continued oil and gas production in the North Sea.