In memory of our daughter Amelia Isabel Michie

So. I am aware pregnancy loss and stillbirth is a taboo subjects so it’s a bit of a big one but I tell you it’s worth the read.

Our beautiful daughter Amelia passed away in January, we went in for induction on the 5th. It was an exciting day yet busy day and me and my partner and mother headed to the hospital, after a pretty text book pregnancy, I suffered with hyperemesis gravidarum throughout but Amelia was thriving. We arrived for our induction and worlds were turned upside down.

our perfect baby girl didn’t have a heart beat and was born sleeping on the 7th of January.

We found out the results 7 months later (the longest hardest 7 months of my natural life, I felt like I could have died with the ache in my chest! ) she passed away at 41 weeks 3 days gestation.. 1 week and 3 days over due.

Amelia due date was the 28th of December 2022 and was born on the 7th of January 2023. This cause of death was FetoMaternal Haemorrhage, basically my placenta failed. It was old. As many women know the placenta can be a lot of trouble as it’s an organ that grows on its own and they and I have no control over. So, I want to advocate for pregnant women around the world not just Scotland to have in place that women SHOULD NOT go past 40 weeks. They say 9 months of pregnancy but it’s not, it’s 10 plus & the waiting after a sweep which comes with risks in its self, but that’s a conversation for another day. I just don’t want any other family or mother to have to go through this absolute hell we have. I was told if I went in 1 week earlier she would be alive. She died either the day of induction or the day before but there was still fetal movement due to her “floating” in her sack. I really feel that leaving women and letting babies be failed is absolutely despicable and should NOT be in a pregnancy plan! Get induced, get a section. Scream from the top of your lungs and Advocate for you and your baby. I will never ever ever go past 40 weeks of pregnancy in the future. Amelia’s placenta showed aging patterns and that it had haemorrhaged and killing my full term baby girl instantly. The chances of this happening in 1in 1000 and 1 in 5000. It’s as catastrophic as getting into a car accident.

There was nothing that could have been done , and if I did know, there was a 30% chance she’d of been disabled due to the lack of oxygen to her brain. This has taken me so long to even think about never mind write about But it needs spoken about and this was caused due to the placenta being old. THEY HAVE A SHELF LIFE, just like pregnancy’s. They are only made for a certain time to keep baby fed and give goodness until birth. Amelia lost most of her blood in her body due to this, it was in my blood which we found out with tests of me, baby, placenta etc. so. Now you know my story and my daughter’s story. would you sign a petition to not allow pregnancy’s to go over 40 weeks? Please comment so I can get ideas. It’s to parliament I’m going with this but in the mean time I want to raise funds for a cuddle cot at the Victoria hospital in Amelia’s honour. 4 babies died the same day Amelia did. 7 days into years! 7 days

A cuddle cot helps the baby not deteriorate quick keeping them preserved giving mums and dads the chance to make memories with their beloved child and get a couple of extra days. I didn’t know anything about cold cots and memory making. They have professional photographers on stand by to take precious memories as a family (my god I will treasure these pictures with my life) but you don’t realise how much goes into the job of being a midwife. You think it’s all sunshine and rainbows but it’s really not. I want to get them a nice food hamper and flowers made from Amelia. They treated her as if she was their own and done the things I was scared to do. It’s funny, well it’s not but when they pass away and you give birth you still feel a motherly instinct to keep them safe, protect them and not hurt them anymore than they already are?

The bereavement suite wasn’t the greatest at the vic even though the team are out this world. I couldn’t have gotten through any of it without my midwives Bethany and Alysha . But It’s needing updated massively, All we had a hospital bed and a chair for John to sleep on and my mam and a fridge and of course a bathroom.

I want to raise funds for the cuddle cot which is £1695 and the rest will go towards the bereavement suite for a fold down double bed for comfort to a family to be-able to hold their child cuddle them in bed like you would when you got home with a newborn, a nice coffee machine and and curtains so it feels homey along and extra things in the memory boxes because they are all you have left of a child you’ve just given birth to after waiting 9 months to meet them. You leave with this box and an empty car seat. So the box is literally your life!

Also, some pamper things for mam and dad as you don’t think about yourself at all during this time and now looking back I wish I’d done so many more things.

So, I’m going to stop here cause I could speak all day about my girl and the time we had together, I’ll round this up with a massive thank you to close family and friends who literally kept me alive during a time I never thought I’d be able to live. I want to thank anyone who’s took the time to read Amelia and I’s story.

I’m going to be making a go fund me page in honour of mine and johns beautiful daughter it is to be linked with Victoria maternity/bereavement suite and I want to present them the big check and do a ribbon cutting for the new bereavement suite once it’s decorated

I thought I would show the world who made us parents and who’s gonna change other families lives.

This is our beautiful daughter

Amelia Isabel Michie

Born sleeping 7th of January @ 7:40 am weighing 5lb 5oz.

Forever our perfect sleeping beauty. I’ll miss you forever and a day my darling daughter.