Gosport mum who gave birth to stillborn son raises money for new cold cot at Queen Alexandra Hospital
A DEVASTATED mother who gave birth to her stillborn son is determined to help other families who go through the same tragedy.
Ashleigh Beeney from Gosport was 31 weeks pregnant when she gave birth to her son Arlo-Blue, alone at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham.
The 28-year-old said: ‘I woke up one morning and just knew something was wrong. My maternal instinct kicked in and I went to QA and they confirmed he had died.
‘I was given the induction pill and two days later went back to give birth. My mum did come with me but went home as we thought labour would last a long time but it happened quite quickly after she left.
‘He was born breech and had the cord tangled around his neck. He must have got tangled in the womb.’
Ashleigh, who has three other children, was admitted to the Nightingale Suite and got to spend four days with Arlo, who was in a cold cot.
She said: ‘It was so lovely and peaceful to have that time with him and make memories.
‘The midwives treated us as if he were a living baby and looked after us so well. The only problem was the cold cot Arlo was in was faulty so it kept going too cold.’
The Open University second year law student decided to raise £4,000 for a new cold cot for QA as well as sibling memory boxes to help families with other children grieve.
Ashleigh said: ‘When I came home from the hospital I thought I didn’t want my son to just die and be a memory to us but be a legacy for other families.
A new cold cot in Arlo’s name would mean another family could make some memories which would mean so much to me. I also have been making sibling memory boxes with books, a teddy and a balloon to help siblings grieve.
‘I got given a memory box but I wanted my children to have that support to grieve as well about their brother in the sky. I also want to thank the anonymous donor who gave £2,000 and means QA will get the cot sooner.’
To donate visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/arlo-blue