Fiona shares how after experiencing some abdominal pain at 40 weeks pregnant, a scan couldn’t detect her baby’s heartbeat. When she went into labour and delivered her son Callum George, it was discovered that she had had a placental abruption. Fiona also shares how her whole family as well as close friends were affected by Callum’s stillbirth, how she wondered whether it was her fault and something she could have done to hurt her baby, and how Sands support was vital.

Please be aware that Fiona has chosen to share a picture of Callum with his dad with her story.

“I had a good pregnancy apart from being very anaemic. At 40 weeks I experienced some abdominal pain and called my midwife. She came to see me and could not locate the baby’s heartbeat. I had no external bleeding. I went to hospital in an ambulance. They did a scan, but no heartbeat was detected. 

I went into labour and delivered our son. I had had a placental abruption. I had to have a blood transfusion and a lot of plasma too. Our hospital midwives were excellent. 

Our son, Callum George weighed nearly 9lb. He was perfect. 

Our lives (we had a four-year-old daughter) were incredibly difficult for a long time, and we all grieved in different ways. Our whole family was affected. Grandparents, aunties, uncles, cousins, as well as our close friends. 

No one could explain why it had happened and this made future pregnancies very stressful. I wondered whether it was my fault, something I could have done to hurt my baby.

I wish now that we had taken Callum home briefly. Leaving hospital without him was crushing. He's buried near my parents, and fortunately we have a few photos of him.

Sands were a great help and their support was vital.