We have put together a selection of stories written by men and women that have been affected by prenatal diagnosis and baby loss. The stories cover a range of experiences and emotions. Each experience is individual. We hope that these stories can help people feel less alone.
We are very grateful for the writers of these stories for enabling us to share their moving accounts here.
Stories about continuing a pregnancy after the diagnosis of a genetic or structural condition
Shell’s Story
I will never forget the first time I held him, it was the happiest yet saddest I have ever been in my life...
Sadia’s Story
I lost my baby in 2010 after she was diagnosed with a genetic condition called autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD).
Stories about ending a pregnancy after the diagnosis of a genetic or structural condition
Samantha’s Story
Our gorgeous Oxie-May was born sleeping on 4th September 2020. At 18 weeks’ gestation, she was tiny but so beautiful.
Zara’s Story
As I begin to type our story, Zara’s story; there is still an overwhelming fear of judgement.
Rosie’s Story
I had my 20-week scan on a Friday. My husband and I were expecting everything to be fine.
Yin’s Story
“Your baby’s head is big! I don’t want to alarm you but just be prepared.” These words from my sonographer changed my life forever.
Lauren’s Story
I am a community midwife, so I often see pregnancies that end in miscarriage which made me apprehensive to tell many people about the pregnancy.
Julia’s Story
When I was 40 years old (2020) I decided it was time to take matters into my hands, so I got pregnant via IVF with a sperm donor.
Hannah’s Story
11th August 2021, my world changed forever. We were lucky enough to fall pregnant only a month after coming off contraception and it was a huge shock.
Katharine’s story
I approached my 20-week scan with the same excitement and joy that I had done for my previous two pregnancies.
Laura’s story
Here is my story of the birth of my daughter Poppy Rose. I am an NHS midwife and I work on the labour ward. It has been extremely difficult for me to be on the other side...
Sara’s story
As it is baby loss awareness week, I felt it was timely to share our tragedy that was losing our beautiful girl, Jessie.
Chris and Rosy’s Story
We lost our daughter Nefi in August 2019 following a TFMR (termination for medical reasons) when I was 34 weeks pregnant.
Maya’s story
2020 was a hard year for everyone, but in September our family had some news, something to finally look forward to! After 18 months of trying for a baby, we were pregnant.
Emily’s Story
I know I will always have that pain of losing Joel and life is just different now, but I have the most amazing, supportive, loving partner and am forever grateful of my boys and my beautiful angel baby Joel. He will always be with me in my heart wherever I go and whatever I do.
Sarah’s Story
Despite the happy chaos of our every day family life, the trauma of losing our second daughter is never far from my mind.
Claire’s Story
No matter how much we wanted this baby, his welfare had to come first and I couldn’t bear for him to suffer any more than he had to.
Alma’s story
She has changed me and made me more fragile and more robust, delighted yet cynical, in love and yet removed. Thank you Alma for your brief visit,
Jo’s story
My experience is not unique. Everyone has their own survival story that has shaped who they are. I hope my story makes some people feel like they are not on their own.
Sara’s Story
It’s been a little over two years since we had, and lost, Luca – our first son. To some, it may sound like a fairly long time, but losing a baby is something that, I believe, you never truly, utterly recover from
Kelly’s Story
17th September 2019, I sat alone in the clinic waiting to say goodbye to our much longed for daughter Molly.
Silma & Binit’s Story
What a whirlwind of a year so far. In January of this year, coronavirus was not a word mentioned in majority of the households in the UK, but now it's something we won't ever forget.
Haley’s story
T.O.P – That's what I saw typed on my notes as I sat across from the registrar. It took me a moment to figure out what this meant, and then I realised: Termination of Pregnancy.
Notes to my daughter Oliver
On October 25th 2018 I found that I was pregnant. I worried every single day that I would lose you but by the scan on 28th December I had really started to imagine our future together.
A Grandmother’s Story
My darling daughter and her husband had received the most devastating information about their beloved as yet unborn son