Understanding causes of death

[Bookbox]

That cert says “Sudden death after delivery. Diseased Heart”
So the delivery itself wasn’t the actual or only cause of death. The stress of it finished off her heart.

Precisely. (And the image appeared long after my query was posted!)

[shanreagh]

Agree with Mckha89 and Bookbox. 

The cause of death usually needs to be read as a phrase not as single words ie
proximate cause of death 'sudden death after delivery'
underlying cause of death 'Diseased heart"