PUSHING baby Ava around the park in her pram is a memory Jess Mayall and her partner Steve Branson will always cherish.
The couple, from Grimsby, Lincs, were heartbroken when their daugher was stillborn just 11 days before her due date last July.
They were able to spend two weeks caring for her – taking pictures, changing her clothes, cuddling her and even bringing her home for a night – before finally laying her to rest.
Jess, 36, would visit her grave three times a day for the first few months for hours on end.
But the couple, who have been together for 18 years, were finally given hope after finding out they were expecting again and on September 9, they welcomed daughter Imogen.
Rainbow baby
Jess and Steve want to make sure their new daughter will always know she had a big sister and have precious pictures of her all around the house.
Jess, a beauty therapist, said: "We had been trying for a baby for two years before I found out I had endometriosis which had left me with hardly any eggs so we had to go on a waiting list for one free trial of IVF which didn't work.
"We had an egg donor and after our second round of IVF, which we had to take a loan out for, we fell pregnant with Ava in October 2018 and were over the moon.
"Eleven days before her due date, I had a placental abruption, so she was born stillborn – it was surreal because I had to give birth to her naturally and it was traumatic for both of us.
"St Andrew's Hospice in Grimsby were amazing – we used their bereavement suite where we were able to make memories with her for two weeks.
"She was a fully grown baby and I kept thinking that she would wake up at any minute.
She was a fully grown baby and I kept thinking that she would wake up at any minute
"When we found out we were pregnant with Imogen, we were overwhelmed but I was terrified throughout the entire pregnancy that the same thing might happen again – it was mental torture.
"When she was born, it was an overwhelming sense of relief and we have already taken Imogen to visit her big sister at her 'forever bed' and we will make sure she knows who Ava is growing up.
"Imogen is in the same room that Ava would have been – we set up Ava's room but never got to put her in it so now Imogen has all of the same things as her older sister.
"I did feel slightly guilty bringing Imogen home; I worried that people would think I was trying to replace Ava, so it has been a strange journey.
"I feel as though the girls have a connection because Imogen has been to visit Ava at her 'forever bed' and when we first took her, I really felt her presence and Imogen will always know she has an older sister".
Jess and her 38-year-old fiancé Steve, a gas engineer, had just bought their first home when they decided to try for a baby.
But five years later, the couple were left heartbroken after their daughter was stillborn.
What is placental abruption?
The placenta is the baby’s support system in the womb. If it doesn’t work properly, the baby is at risk of health problems.
Placental abruption is a serious condition in which the placenta starts to come away from the inside of the womb wall before the baby has delivered.
This is an emergency because it means that the support system for the baby is failing.
Symptoms of placental abruption:
- pain in the back and abdomen
- contractions
- tender womb
- vaginal bleeding
If you are suffering from any of the symptoms above get medical help immediately because they may signify an emergency.
In most cases of placental abruption it will be diagnosed from obvious blood loss.
However it could also be a concealed or ‘silent’ abruption, in which the blood is trapped between the wall of the womb and the placenta so there is little or no bleeding. In this case it would be diagnosed when the woman reports pain in the back or abdomen.
The level of pain depends on the severity of the abruption. A less severe abruption may feel like a bruise. A severe abruption will be very painful.
- For more detailed information, visit the Tommy's website
Precious moments
Jess said: "The placental abruption meant she wasn't getting any oxygen or blood supply, so she was wasn't breathing when she was born.
"The hospice was a life saver for us – the support they offered us really changed our experience and we are so glad that we were able to make two weeks' worth of memories with her before laying her to rest.
"We took Imogen to meet her sister the first day she came home, and the sun came out and a white feather landed on her bed – we know that she's with us.
"I had a c-section with Imogen because I was so scared that the same thing would happen again.
"When I heard her cry, it was a surreal moment and tears just rolled down my eyes.
"It was the happiest moment of my life and I was so overwhelmed with joy when they put her skin to skin with me".
Jess was in for a shock as Steve popped the question after she had given birth to their 6lb 1oz baby Imogen.
Jess said: "I was in the recovery room and Steve had popped a baby grow on Imogen reading 'mummy, will you marry me' and I turned round, and Steve was on one knee.
"That was the best day of my life".
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