Liverpool Women’s Hospital, are dedicated to supporting families through the most challenging moments of their lives.

The Honeysuckle bereavement service provides compassionate care to those experiencing pregnancy loss, stillbirth and neonatal death.

Hi all,

This October, for Baby Loss Awareness Month, I’m taking on a swimming challenge to raise awareness and open up conversations around stillbirth and baby loss.

On the 13th of April 2025, our beautiful daughter, Nancy Elizabeth Doris Jones, was stillborn at 39 weeks. She is our third child, and little sister to Maggie and Kaspar. Nancy is loved so very much, and unexpectedly losing her is such an unimaginable heartbreak.

We later learned that a rare placental complication, something that could not have been detected or prevented, caused Nancy’s death. She will always be our little sunflower, our brightest star in the sky, and with us wherever we go as a family.

To honour Nancy, I’ll be swimming the length of the English Channel — 21 miles throughout October. Most of this will be in my local pool, but I also plan some open water swims. This will be both a physical and emotional challenge, and it will mark a very special milestone: the month Nancy should have been turning six months old.

Stillbirth is often treated as a taboo subject — something many feel uncomfortable talking about. But silence only deepens the loneliness for grieving families. In the UK alone, eight babies are stillborn every single day. This number shocked me!! These are not just numbers; they are much-loved children, brothers, sisters, and futures that will never be lived. This isn't to scare people, but by speaking openly, listening with compassion, and embracing one another without judgment, we can help break the silence and honour every baby’s memory.

We were cared for at the Liverpool Women’s Hospital, where the incredible midwives, OB's and the Honeysuckle Bereavement Team gave us compassionate support. They helped us create memories with Nancy — handprints, casts, photographs and dressing her, not to mention the endless cups of tea and biscuits whilst in survival mode!

The Honeysuckle also has a beautiful little lounge where you can spend precious time with your baby after leaving the hospital. A serene memorial garden—a space to sit, cry, reflect, or talk. Looking back, this was one of the most incredible gifts. We’re so thankful for the chance to hold Nancy, read her stories, and create our little handprint family tree with her. These moments are treasures we’ll carry forever, and they made an unbearable situation a little gentler, which is why the Honeysuckle Team’s work is truly life-saving.

The Honeysuckle Team also run a monthly support group for parents — a safe space where we can talk openly, or sit quietly, without fear of judgment. Sometimes it’s about sharing, sometimes it’s simply about being alongside people who truly understand the heartache.

By continually supporting this amazing team, they can continue to help families like ours and improve facilities and carry on the amazing care in the future.

I think it’s also important to talk about how to support those who are grieving. Every family’s circumstances are different, and what we need can change from moment to moment. There isn’t a guidebook, no perfect words, and often even those of us grieving don’t know what we need. We are living through the unthinkable — a reality that shouldn’t exist, but sadly does. What makes the biggest difference is simply meeting us with empathy, kindness, and sensitivity. Even small gestures of compassion can be a lifeline.

Life after stillbirth is something no parent ever expects to navigate. For mums, it can feel as though your birth is erased — people are afraid to ask what your baby looked like, or what delivery was like, even though we long to share. We still went through months of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery — only with grief woven into every step.

For dads, support is often even less visible. They’re expected to be “strong” and carry everyone else, but they’re grieving too. Jay has found strength through the Honeysuckle football group — a space where dads can meet others who get it, talk honestly, and share their feelings. They chat, play footy, and often go for a pint afterwards. I know Jay counts down the days until it’s football night, and rightly so.

What’s clear from meeting other parents is that many feel unable to speak openly about their babies. They fear judgment, or making others uncomfortable. But grief doesn’t go away when it’s ignored — it becomes heavier.

By sharing Nancy’s story, we hope to reduce the stigma, encourage open conversations around stillbirth and baby loss, and raise funds to support services that make a real difference for families like ours.

Thank you so much for reading our story and supporting us as we swim for Nancy.

With love,
Lucy, Jay, Maggie, Kaspar & Nancy 🌻✨