Helen Z
Helen was 36 when she became pregnant for the second time. During a scan at 23 weeks her baby’s heartbeat could not be heard and her labour was induced. Helen’s baby was born showing no signs of life at 23 weeks and 3 days.
Helen was pregnant for a second time. Everything had been progressing normally until she went for a routine scan at 21 weeks of pregnancy. The sonographer was able to find her baby’s heartbeat but because of the position he was lying in, they could not take all the measurements they needed to. After trying unsuccessfully to get him to move, Helen was asked to come back for another scan 2 weeks later. At this second scan they could not find her baby’s heartbeat and Helen was told he had died. She was 23 weeks pregnant. That day, Helen was given a tablet to prepare her body for the labour and birth. She found swallowing the tablet really difficult because it meant the end of her pregnancy. She was sent home and asked to come back two days later to give birth to her baby. But Helen found waiting at home so difficult she went back to the maternity unit the next night.
Helen had a short labour and her son was born showing no signs of life. She named him Beau. Helen and her husband spent the night in hospital with their son in a dedicated bereavement room. They really appreciated the memory box they were given by midwives. In particular they appreciated the book they could read to their son and the certificate to record his birth.
Helen and her husband had initially thought that they would not want an investigation to understand their baby’s death. But a week later they decided that they would have a post mortem as it might give them information that could help them make a decision about whether to try for another baby. Helen found her employer very generous in giving her 6 weeks off work. Nevertheless going back to work was particularly difficult for her, as she worked in a company selling baby clothes. So she decided to leave her job to be at home with her older son. Helen and her husband decided to try again for another baby and she became pregnant very quickly. Helen felt anxious throughout the pregnancy but it progressed well and her daughter was born at full-term.