The annual Baby Loss Awareness Week runs from Monday 9 to Sunday 15 October and for mum-of-three Rosie Guthrie, 35, it’s another opportunity for her to honour and talk about eldest son George. (Pictured above is Rosie and partner Mark with baby George).

She said: “George would be three now and some people may think it’s been years, why are you still talking about him? But It’s how I honour his memory and I’ll keep talking about him for as long as I live.

“Leaving hospital without him was heartbreaking and it meant a lot to me afterwards when I was asked questions about him, when people said his name and spoke to me like I’d just had a baby. Some don’t know how to act so avoid it, but we were still new parents and had all the same emotions, we were so proud and wanted to talk about him. That’s why openness is so important.”

George was the first baby for Rosie and Mark, 34, due just months into the Covid 19 pandemic in May 2020. After a trouble-free pregnancy, Rosie came to Queen’s Hospital when he stopped moving.

When multiple scans failed to find a heartbeat, Rosie had a normal labour to give birth to George.

She added: “I didn’t know what to expect in labour as he was my first but the staff were really supportive and reassuring. As much as him dying was the worst thing to happen to us, we also had a good birth experience and meeting our firstborn was as precious to us as anyone else. He was perfect when he was born.

 “We spent three days with him in the Snowdrop Suite which is specifically for bereaved families, and did everything new parents would do, like dressed him and took his hand and footprints. The only difference was he never got to come home with us, and instead of a celebration, we had a funeral.”

Rosie and Mark have since welcomed Daisy, two, whose birthday is just three days after George’s, and 10-month-old Harry (pictured with them below). During both subsequent pregnancies Rosie was extremely anxious, benefitting from the ongoing support of our specialist bereavement midwives.

She added: “We were still in Covid restrictions when I was pregnant with Daisy so Mark couldn’t attend my appointments. But my bereavement midwife Louise came which meant I didn’t have to be on my own. And the Maternity team were really accommodating, booking in extra scans to monitor her.

“I had a real disconnect during my pregnancy with Daisy, I didn’t let myself believe it. When she was born, I couldn’t get attached in case she died too. I couldn’t understand why she here and George was not. I shut off to protect myself. It was when we could go home that it really changed for me, as we didn’t get to do that with George. It was a bittersweet moment walking out with her, I was so happy, but sad for George.”

Rosie has since befriended two other mums who lost sons, and by talking about their boys on social media, they even had another bereaved mum contact them recently.

She said: “We can talk about things no one else understands. When it first happens you feel like the only person in the world it’s happened to but when you talk about it, it’s surprising how many people open up about things that have happened to them or someone close.

“I always tell people I’m a mum-of-three and that George is no longer with us. We celebrate his birthday, I sleep next to his ashes and had a ring made from them too so he’s always with me. Baby Loss Awareness Week gives us a chance to do something for him, and is a time when people are more aware of it. We should all take a moment to think about what’s happened to others, and remember how important it is to be open in talking about it.”

We’re holding a baby loss awareness service on Tuesday 10 October from 6.30 to 7pm for those affected by baby loss. It will be held in the Education Centre at Queen’s Hospital. You can also join the meeting virtually via MS Teams.

There are several charities which support those affected by baby loss, including Sands and S.O.S Baby Loss.