Laura Williams' son Leo Robert Puckey was stillborn
Heavily pregnant mum Laura Williams was due to give birth to her third child when doctors gave her the worst news imaginable.

Her unborn child Leo Robert Puckey had died in her womb after the umbilical cord became wrapped around the baby’s neck and body.

But just four months after Leo’s death, the tragedy has already been turned into something positive – thanks to Laura’s determination to help others.

Couldn't find a heartbeat

“Everything was perfect,” said Laura, who lives in Ely, Cardiff .


“In the early hours of February 2, which was the due date, I went into a slow labour.

“I noticed that the baby had become really quiet – sometimes he was active and sometimes he wasn’t.

“When I went into the University Hospital of Wales the midwives tried to find a heartbeat, but they couldn’t tell initially if it was my heartbeat they were hearing or the baby’s.”
After two consultants also monitored the child, Laura was given the news every expectant mother dreads.

“They told me they couldn’t find a heartbeat,” said the 24-year-old.

“I thought to myself ‘maybe he’s lying in a different position’; that they’d got it wrong.

“It felt like I was dreaming. The baby had been inside me for nine months and I thought everything had been fine.

“I was in a state of shock.”

'He was just a sleeping baby to me'

Laura, who has two other children, was told to travel back to her Ely home and return to the hospital the following morning to have Leo delivered.

“I didn’t want to give birth to him as I knew he wouldn’t be crying when he came out,” she added.

“But when he was born, my motherly instincts kicked in. I held him, kissed him, bathed him and dressed him. I just wanted to make him feel as comfortable as possible.

“To me, he was just a sleeping baby.”

Laura Williams' son Leo Robert Puckey was stillborn
The Cardiff mum heaped praise on the consultants, nurses, midwives and specialist bereavement midwives at the University Hospital of Wales who she described as “absolutely amazing”.

She added: “They were so caring of my needs. They were constantly checking up on me to see if I was okay, even up to two months after it all happened.”

Fundraising day for SANDS

To keep little Leo’s memory alive, Laura has decided to start fundraising for SANDS, a leading stillbirth and neonatal charity.

The organisation offers vital emotional support to families who have lost a child.

Laura, who was given a memory box of Leo which included his foot and hand prints, is now organising a family fun day next month called ‘Leo’s legacy’.

It will be held at Ely Recreation Ground on Archer Road on Saturday, July 30 and will include a raffle, a bouncy castle, a DJ, dancers and stalls.

“By calling the event Leo’s Legacy’ it’s a great way to remember him and show other parents that you can overcome a tragedy like this,” said Laura, who is keen for people to come forward with raffle prizes.

“Without SANDS we wouldn’t have these precious memories of Leo to cherish forever.”
For more information, or to offer raffle prizes, go to the ‘Leo’s Legacy’ Facebook page .

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