I'm taking part in the Tommy's 5km a day in October challenge to help raise awareness and fund vital research to stop the heartbreak and devastation of baby loss and make pregnancy and birth safe - for everyone.

My whole world fell apart at 33 weeks pregnant when, after a private 4D scan intended to enjoy the last few scan snaps before my precious baby girl was here, a devastating diagnosis of irreversible cardiomyopathy was delivered. The beautiful baby I had spent so many months growing and loving, had an enlarged heart and there was nothing that could be done to save her.

With the help, advice and honesty of the amazing specialist teams at Great Ormond Street Hospital and Homerton University Hospital, a plan was put together to support me to continue carrying Daisy until 37 weeks if possible to minimise the added pressure of prematurity on her heart and lungs. She would then be delivered via caesarean section to give us the highest possible chance of spending even a few precious moments together before she passed away.

We were up at Homerton twice a week to have scans to check Daisy's condition remained as stable as possible, the slightest sign at deterioration would mean she would have to be delivered as soon as possible and of course there was a high chance she wouldn't make it to delivery at all and that her poor little heart would be unable to cope with the extra work it was already having to do and stop at any time.

Daisy kept fighting and was delivered crying at 37 + 4 weeks at Homerton University Hospital, weighing 7lbs 4oz. After making the heartbreaking decision no parent should ever have to make, I had decided against intubation and medical intervention should Daisy be born alive as it would not change the outcome of losing her and the one thing I felt I could do for her as her mother was to make sure she didn't suffer. It would be down to Daisy to decide how long we got together and I would not prolong her struggle any longer than she felt able to fight.

Daisy surpassed ALL expectations and gave us 36 amazing hours together. We spent most of those 36 hours doing skin to skin and just simply being with each other and they were the best 36 hours of my life. Daisy was delivered at 12:45pm on Monday 2nd September 2024 and passed away at 01:35am on Wednesday 4th September 2024.

In all this heartache, I am so thankful that not only was I aware in advanced of Daisy's birth and able to prepare as much as a parent could to lose their child (you can still never prepare for that indescribable heartache and pain) but that I also had an amazing medical and midwife team around me that ensured both Daisy and I always felt heard and prioritised.

However, I am all too aware that many parents do not get the knowledge or time I was afforded with my beautiful girl and anything that I can do to support research to help stop other parents going through the same thing and honour Daisy's memory is one of a few positives I can take from this.

Tommy's, the pregnancy and birth charity, are the leading pregnancy research charity in the UK. Not only do they fund research into trying to prevent such devastating loss but they also provide a number of different support systems and information for parents and families that have had to experience the trauma of losing a baby at any stage!

Thank you in advanced for donating - any amount will make a huge difference!