Hello!

17 Comments

Warning: Contains images some may find distressing.

A Brisbane mum has shared the heart-wrenching images of her stillborn son to warn other families about a common disorder that pregnant women should be mandatory tested.

Brooke Campbell, from Brisbane, nearly died after she lost more than 1.7 litres of blood when she suffered a severe haemorrhage in the early hours of August 28.

But after she was taken to hospital, the young woman completely broke down when her obstetrician found baby Darcy no longer had a heartbeat.

‘I looked at the ultrasound screen and could see Darcy’s lifeless body just hanging there inside me,’ Ms Campbell told Daily Mail Australia.

‘There are no words but gut-wrenching and a vivid picture in my mind that I will never forget.

‘It was too late to do anything as he was already gone.’

The cause of her unborn son’s death was a haemorrhage caused by a placental abruption – which occurs when the placenta separates from the uterus.

45364A3B00000578-4965188-Little_Noah_planted_a_kiss_on_his_baby_brother-a-160_1507700363634 45364A6000000578-4965188-The_infant_was_stillborn_leaving_his_parents_and_his_two_year_ol-a-150_1507701527660

‘The placenta just blew off from the uterus wall, causing Darcy to go into cardiac arrest. And he passed away due to no oxygen,’ she said.

‘I was in complete shock and I just didn’t believe it. But I knew while we were waiting for the ambulance at home with the amount of blood and clots I was losing and that I couldn’t feel him… something was very very wrong.’

The distraught mother was transferred to a birth suite where she had to deliver her baby knowing he was going to be stillborn.

‘There are no words to describe the pain and heart break knowing he was going to be stillborn. Horrific and gut-wrenching won’t even cover it,’ Ms Campbell said.

‘We chose not to do an unnecessary caesarean section. We continued on with a vaginal birth as my first was also vaginal.

‘It was such a cruel thing I had to go through with the labour and delivery. Knowing Darcy would be gone when he came out it killed me so much but it had to be done.

‘I just burst into tears knowing what would be coming next. Three big pushes and he was out… 53 centimetres long and 3.3 kilograms just like his big brother.

‘Darcy looked healthy and beautiful except he didn’t cry like a newborn. He just looked like he was asleep which shattered my heart into many pieces because I just wanted him to gasp and take his first breath.’

darcy

A blood test found Ms Campbell had a rare clotting, genetic disorder called Factor V Leiden, which affects one in 20-25 people.

‘If this test was to become mandatory during pregnancy for all women, then I would not have lost my healthy beautiful son,’ she said.

‘The test informs you if you have Factor V Leiden – and then you can have injections throughout pregnancy to prevent suffering a placental abruption.’

‘Women just need to have the option there to get tested for this disorder otherwise they may hold the gene and be risking the life of their unborn baby, themselves and future grandchildren.’

After finding the strength to tell her story, Ms Campbell said she wanted to raise awareness about the dangers and the possibility that people, including pregnant women and men, could be carrying the genetic disorder without knowing.

‘The pain and suffering we endured through the past six weeks are just horrendous and no parent should ever have to ever bury their healthy child,’ she said.

‘I don’t want people to risk their own lives or the lives of their unborn children so I just want to get the message across this disorder does exist.

‘It’s common and no one even really knows about it until its too late. We didn’t even know what it was until we got the results back after Darcy had passed away.’

Read the full story HERE.

Our thoughts are with them all x

Read more: MoM’s share what they wish people knew about miscarriage and pregnancy loss

If you are struggling with a recent loss there are a few support networks to reach out to below

The Pink Elephants
https://pinkelephantssupport.com/feel-home/support-resources/

Bears Of Hope Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support
Grief Support: 1300 11 HOPE
Email: support@bearsofhope.org.au

PANDA
PANDA National Helpline (Mon to Fri, 9am – 7.30pm AEST) Call 1300 726 306

Sands.org.au
24 hours a day, 365 days a year (including Christmas Day) by dialling 1300 072 637

Lifeline 13 11 14

Share your comments below

We may get commissions for purchases made using links in this post. Learn more.
  • I am so sorry for their loss. It is too heartbreaking to fathom. I hope they do the test as a mandatory test so this can be prevented in future.

    Reply

  • Oh my goodness, I hope they have found peace now.
    It’s definitely devastating to read things like this. I wouldn’t even want to imagine it.
    They should definitely make sure that women have a choice to take the test so that this doesn’t happen.

    Reply

  • My heart just breaks for them. I had a placental abruption and was so extremely lucky that the bleeding started when I just happened to be at hospital for my checkup. I hate to think what might have been had I not been there at the hospital and monitored to have my baby via emergency c section that day.

    Reply

  • Absolutely heartbreaking as a mother to read. I can’t fathom the pain she must’ve felt, it’s indescribable but the strength to use this and raise awareness is just everything

    Reply

  • The loss of a child is a heartbreak like no other. My condolences to the family. RIP Little Darcy.

    Reply

  • My condolences to this young family.

    Reply

  • Knowing your baby will not take a breath is the hardest thing to bear. Knowing that something could had stop this would be un bearable. My prayers go out to this family and with luck knowing this problem they may hopefully experience a live birth next time.

    Reply

  • Aw bless, this is so heartbreaking indeed ! My thoughts and prayers go out to this family, sending much love and hope they receive all the support they need & more.

    Reply

  • My heart is broken for this family and all my sincere thoughts go to them. Such heart breaking sadness, no family should have to go through.

    Reply

  • Absolutely heartbreaking – sending prayers to the family and hoping that the testing will be made mandatory!

    Reply

  • Absolutely devastating. How incomprehensible to fathom their pain. Bub was nearly to term, to have to go through birth knowing you won’t be delivering a living baby……..gut wrenchingly heart breaking

    Reply

  • The photos they have of Darcy are beautiful. I hope they win their fight. It should be a mandatory blood test. My heart goes out to them.

    Reply

  • How heart wrenching. I’m sending lots of love to this family. I hope the testing becomes more common place in the future.

    Reply

  • Just heartbreaking.

    Reply

  • I suppose it’s like everything… There’s a cs associated with it and someone who won’t be affected decided not to pay.

    Reply

Post a comment
Add a photo
Your MoM account


Lost your password?

Enter your email and a password below to post your comment and join MoM:

You May Like

Loading…

Looks like this may be blocked by your browser or content filtering.

↥ Back to top

Thanks For Your Star Rating!

Would you like to add a written rating or just a star rating?

Write A Rating Just A Star Rating
Join