Story
1 in 4 pregnancies result in a loss - this is a statistic I personally knew nothing about until recently when our world came crashing down.
On the 4th of January 2022 Adam and I found out the amazing news that we were expecting our first baby - we were over the moon, so excited for what the future held! We were going to be a mum and dad, a family!
At 16 weeks we paid for a private gender scan, and found out we were expecting a baby boy! - just what we had wished for! A few weeks went by and this was followed up by our 20 week scan where it was confirmed that our baby boy had no health issues and the pregnancy was low risk. A healthy pregnancy - just what every parent wishes for… so I thought.
Towards the end of my pregnancy, I was feeling huge, exhausted, and was wishing to have my body back! …. Well, I’d do anything to go back to the time where I held him safe, wriggling around and kicking me in the ribs, anything to just kiss him and hold him one last time.
On the 2nd of September I was sent for a scan as a precaution for growth measurement but was assured everything was fine and it wouldn’t be long before his arrival. The following day I woke up with some mild contractions, as the day went on they grew stronger and stronger and by 11:30pm I was in so much pain that we decided it was time to make our way to the hospital. During our pre labour checks we were greeted with the worst news we had ever had, our beautiful baby boy had no heartbeat.
Our whole world came to a standstill, complete and utter shock… not believing the words that left the midwife’s mouth. And then Adam having to call our parents and repeat those words again… it wasn’t real, it couldn’t be?
On the 4th of September 2022 we welcomed our beautiful baby boy Noah Dominic Shingler-Day into this world weighing 6lb3oz at 09:10am… only he was born with no heartbeat. You never think you will be that one in four - I was a low risk pregnancy with no concerns the whole way through, how did this happen? Why me? Why us? What did we do to deserve this? All the thoughts that ran through my head after hearing those words. I was numb, I didn’t know how to feel, how to react, I couldn’t believe it, it didn’t seem real, it still doesn’t - I don’t think it ever will.
One of the hardest goodbyes are definitely the ones before the hello…
My mum (Sarah), my brother (Nathan) and myself wanted to take part in the Snowdon by Night Hike on the 20th of May to help raise money for Sands, a charity which is very close to my heart - they help bereaved families, and provide support to anyone affected by pregnancy loss or the death of a baby.
It’s going to be a very hard challenge, but definitely worth it, and I know my beautiful baby boy Noah will be looking over us & supporting us the whole way up as he’s now the brightest star in the whole sky.
Any donation you can make no matter how little can make a big difference to aid Sands in supporting bereaved families and help save babies lives - it will also be massively appreciated 💙