Firstly, thank you for taking time to read our story. A story we will never forget.

As a family we were more than looking forward to meeting our new addition. At 36 +1 weeks we were almost ready for our new arrival, the nursery was almost complete with a few finishing touches to go. We were so excited to find out if we were having a Boy or Girl with just under 4 weeks to go. Yet, on Monday the 17th of March 2025 our lives changed forever.

I had just finished my last Monday at work; it was a typical Monday evening, Ben was at work, and I was getting ready to settle down for the night with our 3-year-old son.

I started bleeding, quite a lot in fact. Initially, I thought my waters had broken until I began to realise it was in fact blood. I contacted Barnsley Hospital and was told to come in as soon as I can. I was alone with our son, so I remained calm and hoped it was nothing to worry about. I gathered my things and drove myself and our son to the hospital where I met my parents until Ben arrived. I was not in any pain; therefore, I did not suspect anything was severely wrong with having a “normal” healthy pregnancy throughout. I thought wrong!

I was seen in triage accordingly. After what felt like a lifetime, the midwife managed to find the babies heartbeat though it was reduced. I was seen by a Dr who brought over an ultrasound scan to check on the baby. What happened next was unimaginable. Emergency buzzers were pressed and everyone came running over, I was rushed off to theatre alone unsure of what was happening. I started to panic and began to have what felt like a panic attack. I was told I needed an emergency c section, and that I would need to be put to sleep. Ben was taken to another room and was told to put on some scrubs and to listen out for our babies cry within the next 10 minutes. I generally thought our baby was coming then and now and I was in fact telling Ben to make sure he puts the car seat in the car. I was somewhat excited but scared at the same time.

10 minutes passed and then another. Ben never heard our baby cry.

Sadly, I woke up to the horrific news that my baby was born sleeping, words I will never forget. My baby never woke despite resuscitation attempts. I could barely see my eyes were flooding with tears. Why me, why my baby!!

Ben and I were in despair. How could this happen when we were so close to our due date. Just when you think you are out of the “danger zone” and then something so horrific happens.

I was told my placenta had fully come away, known as placenta abruption. They had a matter of minutes to get my baby out; however, it was too late. Our baby boy had died. If I could, I would have taken his place in a heartbeat. He was and always will be my baby boy.

Placenta abruption is a rare but serious pregnancy complication that occurs when the placenta detaches from the uterus wall before birth and can be life threatening to both the mother and baby. Placenta abruption affects just 1% of pregnancies.

I had never heard of placenta abruption before, and still to this date unsure why it happened and if we will ever know.

I couldn’t have asked for better care from Barnsley Hospital, staff went above and beyond during what was the most difficult time of our lives. Still to this date we as a family are receiving support.

Leaving hospital without my baby was truly heart breaking. Something I will never forget. Telling our 3-year-old son that his baby brother was not coming home with us was the most painful conversation we have ever endured. Luckily, he did not really understand.

During our stay at Barnsley hospital, we received memorable and keepsake gifts from a UK Charity called 4Louis. We were gifted a memory box filled with keepsakes and mementos to help us as a family create lasting memories of our baby boy Charlie. The Charity 4Louis also provide training to hospital units, hospices and health professionals who work with grieving families. To leave the hospital carrying something definitely helped me in that moment.

Ben and I would like to support the 4Louis Charity so that other bereaved families receive the support they need following a miscarriage, stillbirth and the death of a baby or child making sure that no family goes through this alone.

To support 4Louis, we would like to complete fundraising events throughout the year in memory of our beloved boy Charlie.

Please share this page and donate what you can however big or small. All donations will go towards supporting bereaved families like us.

Lastly, we would like to thank everything for their continued support as we navigate through this difficult time. Grief is real.

All our love,

Ben, Mel and Freddie xxx

Charlie, you will always be loved and never forgotten. We talk and think about you every day and you will always be apart of our family. We hope you are enjoying playing with the cars Freddie gave you.

As your Mummy, I will never forget your little kicks and hearing your heartbeat. One day we will meet again but until then fly high our beautiful boy. Gone but never forgotten.