The death of a 12-day-old baby at a Melbourne women's prison will be investigated by a Victorian coroner.
The infant, who was given the pseudonym Baby A, was found dead in her cot by her mother at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre on August 18, 2018.
The baby had been discharged from hospital the day before her death, counsel assisting the coroner Rachel Ellyard said on Thursday during a directions hearing.
Baby A was born addicted to methadone as her mother was using the prescription drug during her pregnancy.
The woman was in custody on drug offences at the time of Baby A's birth.
The eight-day-old infant was discharged from hospital on August 14 despite weighing 13.5 per cent less than she did at birth, Ms Ellyard said.
She was re-admitted to hospital the next day with jaundice but was again discharged on August 17.
The infant was fed twice by her mother in the early hours of August 18 and she was heard crying about 2.30am, but she was not breathing when her mother checked on her at 5.30am.
Baby A died that morning despite the efforts of her mother and paramedics to resuscitate her.
An inquest into Baby A's death is due to start in the Coroners Court of Victoria on September 12.
Coroner John Olle will investigate the planning in the lead-up to Baby A's birth, the decision for the infant to be discharged twice from hospital, what advice was given to the child's mother, and whether Baby A was in custody.
A number of witnesses will be called to give evidence during the 10-day inquest.
