On 7 July, at 21 and a half weeks pregnant, my waters broke suddenly and I was admitted to St Michael's hospital for observation. After 10 days in hospital I still hadn't gone into labour and I was so hopeful that some of the amniotic fluid would have replenished. However, on day 10, I was scanned and told that there was still no fluid around Zachary (and so his lungs would be underdeveloped). Shortly after my scan the contractions started and two days later, on 19 July, Zachary was born sleeping.

The midwives treated me like any other mother and, when Zachary came, they treated him with the same kindness they would have shown a living baby. They wrapped him in a small knitted blanket, put a hat on his little head and placed him in a little Moses basket. Zachary was born 6 days before the 24 week point so we can't register his birth. Instead the midwives filled in a little book with his name, time and date of birth and his weight. They added his hospital bands, prints of his hand and footprints and even some photos of us all together. This small book is now the most important and precious thing we own. The memory book and camera were donated to the hospital by Sands (the Stillborn and Neonatal Death Society).

We were encouraged to spend as much time with him as we wanted and were told we could come back to the hospital to visit him at any point. I went back to see him a few days later and one of the midwives had wrapped him in an extra blanket and tucked a little teddy bear under his arms - this small act of kindness meant the world to me and gave me so much comfort.

Whilst at the hospital, a member of the Chaplaincy team came to talk to us about a funeral for Zachary. Planning a funeral was not something we would have had the strength to do but, incredibly, the hospital arranged (and paid for) everything for us, all we had to do was pick the readings and music. Being able to say a proper goodbye was so important and we are so grateful the hospital helped us to do so.

All the staff at the hospital were incredible. It was the most awful experience of our lives but they helped us through it by showing us so much kindness. The book and camera donated by Sands has given us something tangible to remember our precious son. We would therefore love to raise funds to donate to St Michael's and Sands in Zachary's name so that they can continue to support bereaved parents like us.