Please be aware Sarah has chosen to share a photo of her daughter Bernadette, her handprints and her memory box with her story. 

I was a happy and content pregnant woman until I attended my gender scan, which was when I was just under 21 weeks. I was told that my daughter Bernadette had stopped growing, there was subsequently no heartbeat, and I needed to go back in a couple of days. 

On the 16th November 2023, I gave birth to my daughter who was so beautiful and precious. 

I was given a Sands memory box, inside all little things that helped me to manage and remember my beautiful baby girl. The most important item in this box was the bears. My daughter had one and I managed to keep the other for myself as well as other lovely little things that brought tears to my eyes. The memory box meant so much because I arrived at the hospital with nothing, feeling guilty as I just didn’t know what I should bring in this circumstance. To have a memory box really helped as it took the guilt away from my heart, knowing that we have something to look in when we feel strong enough. 

We were offered counselling, which is something I accepted as I felt it would really help and I also attended a group grieving session organised through my midwife who specialises in grief. 

My partner and I have gone through the most horrendous ordeal, which tests us not only as individuals but also as a couple. Without the support and signposting we received through Sands and the midwives at the hospital I think it would be harder for us to get through this. This is why I have put effort into fundraising because I can't bring my little sleeping angel back, but I can give back to a charity that helped us in the worst experience ever.