‘There is no pain like the pain of losing your child’

“KAYLEIGH, I’m so sorry” – those were the words that changed a young mum’s life forever, when she was told her baby’s heartbeat had stopped.

Kayleigh Atkins got to spend just 66 hours and 45 minutes with her tiny son Charlie when he was stillborn at 35 weeks.

“I would have been a good mum, I know it,” the 21-year-old carer from Llanishen said.

“I would give absolutely anything to do the things other mothers take for granted. I would be so happy to be woken at all hours, to change a nappy or do a feed.”

Brave Kayleigh decided to write a blog called My Miracle Baby about her experiences, with the hope of helping other people affected by stillbirth.

She first found out something was wrong at her 11-week scan in November last year.

Recalling the appointment, she said: “There’s nothing quite like seeing your baby on the screen for the first time – it all suddenly becomes real.”

Kayleigh attended the scan with family members including her mum Michelle, 42. The sonographer picked up two problems and she was referred to the fetal medicine unit.

“I think we all sat in awe at this little blob on the screen – so little, yet so precious,” she said.

A week later, Kayleigh had her second scan and was told her baby was “growing nicely”, but there were signs of problems. She was given information about the chances of abnormalities, including the possibility she would lose her baby before 20 weeks.

The expectant mum said she felt “crushed”.

“In a matter of seconds, I’d gone from being on top of the world to feeling 10ft under,” she said.

“The doctor offered us a termination, but I could never choose to end my baby’s life. I would fight with my last breath for him or her.”

Kayleigh said the next few weeks were filled with stress and worry, never knowing if she would be able to find