On 28th November 2018 we found out that we had lost our baby at 39 1/2 weeks. Nothing can prepare you for this devastating news; there is nothing anyone can say or do that will change the outcome. To have carried a baby for 39 weeks and discover you will never see them open their eyes, never hear them cry, never be able to take them home; the pain is incomprehensible. However the staff at Wythenshawe were incredible - compassionate, caring and professional at all times.

Due to our baby being full term, the only option was to have a natural childbirth. Within the Maternity ward, they have a specialist suite called the Snowdrop Suite which is away from the normal maternity ward so you aren‘t coming face to face with newborns and new Mums. It is self contained and allows Mum & Dad as much quiet time before the labour and after as you need. The midwives & Doctors are on hand at any time and look after you with so much care in this particularly harrowing time. Our perfect beautiful boy, Samuel James, was born sleeping at 5.03pm on 28th November weighing 7lb 8oz.

Next door to the Suite, there is Lilly’s Room. This is where your precious baby is kept when they are not with you. You can spend as much time with your baby as you want and the staff look after them with such meticulous care. The suite has specialist chilled cots that mean your baby is comfortable but also enables you to not be under any time restraints or pressure to let them go before you're ready to.

No one should have to go through what James and I have gone through, but the care and support we received from the hospital was so very crucial at such a hideous time. Not all hospitals have a suite such as the Snowdrop meaning other families in our position would be on a normal maternity ward. I cannot express enough how absolutely heart wrenching that would be. We’d like to help raise money for the Snowdrop Suite which is funded purely by charitable donations.