We would like to raise money for SANDS because they’re amazing at what they do. Without the help of people raising money, they wouldn’t be able to continue to support bereaved families.

Please be aware our stories can be triggering for some, so please refrain from reading if you feel you may be affected.

Cally’s story,

Aleighsha- Gemma -Roberts -Bates 13/01/2009 💗

It all started on Monday 12th January 2009 I was 15 years old and 38weeks pregnant, i remember the day as if it was just yesterday. I was sat in the living room with my mum and I started having some unusual pains in my stomach my mum advised me to have something to eat so I did but it didn't help these pains just seem to have gotten worse. My mum called the labour ward at Pilgrim Hospital to which she was advised that I need to go in and be put on a monitor. We made the short journey to the hospital my mum, Scott (my partner)and myself. I was taken in a room on the labour ward and popped on the monitors to check on baby and to see if I was contracting.  There it was on the screen the contractions where present but my midwife was struggling to find babies heartbeat. She explained to me that she was going to send me down to the antenatal department for a scan. It was down there I sat for what seemed like an eternity before we were called in. I laid on the bed the sonographer popped the gel on my stomach and start to have a look around. In that moment I see all the colour run from her face as she proceeded to say ' Cally I am ever so sorry there is no heartbeat' how was this possible, how can this be happening, what was going to happen next. I had so many unanswered questions but all I could think about was my baby how did I not keep her safe. I went back to labour ward and was advised that I had to stay in and deliver baby. Our hearts were broken but at 01.17am on Tuesday 13th January 2009 we welcomed our beautiful daughter Aleighsha Gemma Roberts-Bates born still but still born into this world with our mums by our side, she was absolutely perfect all 6lb 6½oz of her. We went on to spend three days with her just holding her, kissing her and taking in every little detail of her perfect but lifeless face. Taking photos, footprints, locks of hair and introducing our wonder daughter to those who loved her the most. We will forever be grateful to the midwife's at Boston Pilgrim Hopsital for the care and compassion they showed us during the hardest time of our lives but our biggest thanks will always go to the midwife that delivered our daughter Melanie Smith she will never understand just how much she helped us when we really needed it the most. The pain a parent feels when they lose a child lives with then forever. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for taking the time to read Our story we have kept it short because if we didn't we would of filled a book and them some.

Sara’s story,

Libby rose baker 💛

This is my story about my beautiful angel Libby-rose …. My absolute beauty …. Long story short ….She was healthy and happy up until just after her 1st birthday 2-5-17 …. On the 7th of may she seemed unwell and was being sick as any parent I thought she might have had a stomach bug until I see a little bit of red in her sick … I new she hadn’t eaten as she was poorly she could only keep her milk down … so I rang 111 and they immediately sent out an ambulance too find out it was blood in her sick ….we got too the hospital when they did tests and scans … and fount something wrong with her heart so we was rushed too Leicester glenfield where they told me she had restricted cardio myopathy…. No operation would help except a full heart transplant and that’s if she made it till then ….. we stayed there till the 21st of may were they got her medicines and stuff sorted and said I could take her home and wait for a phone call for a heart …. On the 22nd of may early hours I new something was wrong so got rushed into hospital again was told too hold my babies hand while they worked on her she gave me that one last squeeze of my hand and a little smile then fell asleep for the last time at 5.01 am 22-5-2017… I’ll never forget how my baby looked in that moment ….that’s when my life fell apart and heart broke forever ….. in the space of 2 weeks I had a healthy baby as far as I thought too her passing away infront of me …. Nothing has ever or will be the same still I struggle everyday but I know I have too go on for her siblings which I also love just as much ….. she will always be my sunshine and will never be forgotten …. I love you my sweet baby girl 💛🌝💛 I wanted too share her story so people know they are not alone and their world could fall apart at any moment just like mine did I have amazing family a certain few friends that have helped me and still are helping me and for them I thank you for keeping me going LIBBY ROSE BAKER 2-5-2016 - 22-5-2017 ❤️❤️

Shinead doesn’t feel she’s ready to speak about her story which is understandable, although she would like us to add her beautiful daughters name, birthday and the day she was passed away.

🕊️❤️ Skyla - Rose - Dunn ❤️ 🕊️

09/01/2018 - 11/05/2018

My story of my beautiful baby girls,

Estelle- Hope & Esme - Faith 💞

On the 6th of May 2018, I woke up thinking I had wet myself for the first time. Never in a million years did I think that this was the beginning of my waters breaking and losing our baby girls. I messaged my friend who lived next door and told her what had happened, and within seconds she was with me. I soon began to experience pains in my tummy and my back, so we rang for the ambulance, I was taken to the pilgrim hospital’s labour ward. This is where I meet our lovely midwife Jackie, she performed an examination and a swab of the fluid I was losing, only to confirm this was amniotic fluid not urine. I spent the rest of the day on the labour ward for monitoring, but nothing was progressing, so I was moved onto the maternity ward. It was during the early hours of the 7th I had started losing more fluid and getting more intense pains, so I was moved back onto labour ward. Fast forward a few hours later, I was now with my partner Chris, my mum, my friend/birthing partner and our midwife. My waters had completely broken and I was now going into preterm premature labour at 5 month gestation. I was told from this point onwards, there isn’t anything they can do, even if my babies are born alive, they will die.

My first -born twin, Estelle - Hope, was delivered at 19.46pm and lived for two minutes. She was a fighter and no matter how much she fought in those minutes; the hospital wouldn’t intervene because she was under 24 weeks, (she was 22 weeks + 1 day) It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, to give birth to one of my daughters knowing in those minutes she desperately needing help to breathe, and I couldn’t do anything to save her. I think I will always feel that guilt for the rest of my life.

My second - born twin, Esme - Faith, not knowing at the time had already died inside of me. Esme was stuck across my cervix and no matter how hard I tried to push her out, she wouldn’t come, she was completely stuck. Our midwife Jackie tried so hard to help me deliver her, but no matter what we did it was no good, so the medical doctor had to intervene. Esme was turned around internally and was finally delivered at 20.35pm and was pronounced as stillborn.

We spent the next three precious days on the labour ward with our little darlings in their cold cot. I will forever be grateful to Jackie and her team, for allowing us the time with our babies, letting our close friends and family members meet them and also for the care and support we received. If you’re reading this Jackie you will always have a special place in our heart, I know how hard it must of been for you when you couldn’t help save Estelle.

Would also like to thank my birthing partner/ friend Mica, I know how hard it was for you too and everything you sacrificed to be there.

I hope sharing our stories, will help encourage other bereaved parents speak up about their angel babies. 🎗️💗💙🤍

Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, operates across the UK: supporting anyone affected by the death of a baby; working in partnership with health professionals to ensure that bereaved parents and families receive the best possible care; and promoting improvements in practice and funding research that could help to reduce the loss of babies’ lives.

We depend on the amazing energies of our supporters to raise the vital funds that we need to deliver the wide range of services that we offer. #TeamSands