Parenthood after baby loss comforting but sad

A couple have spoken of their conflicting emotions at having a healthy baby girl 14 months after their twins were stillborn.

Emma and Jordan Fellows, from Coventry, raised money to open a bereavement room at University Hospital after their experience of delivering the twins in the labour ward on 18 June 2023.

Their sons, Freddie and Frankie, had died during pregnancy at 22 and 34 weeks.

Ms Fellows described how some days with their daughter were overwhelming because she looked "very much like Frankie", which she found both comforting and saddening.

"I think what would he have been like, what would his personality be like," she said.

Mr Fellows also said becoming a father had not been straightforward.

He said: "I was resenting myself for thinking I should have had that moment straight away from the start and we should have just been bonding straight away.

He added that "it just took a little while to click" that his daughter was actually there.

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Ms Fellows described how she was able to try again because she was ready for a new chapter.

"I was ready for a new baby and I wanted to be happy," she said.

Describing how well the hospital looked after her, she added: "I couldn't thank them enough."

The new bereavement room - the Dandelion Room on the hospital's labour ward - is soundproofed to make it feel private for grieving parents.

The couple, who live in Longford, set out to raise funds for it because they were determined some good should come from their experience.

Ms Fellows said that while she loved having her daughter, the twins were always with her.

She said her daughter, when she was old enough and could understand, would know she had two brothers.

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