As part of Sands 40th anniversary, we have collected 40 stories by 40 parents, family members and friends affected by the death of a baby, helping them cope and feel less isolated in their grief. These stories are powerful in helping us end the taboo of talking about baby loss and raise awareness of stillbirth and neonatal deaths. Discover 40 stories for #Sands40 

Our perfect little Oliver

Before Oliver, I lived in blissful ignorance that once you went past 12 then 24 weeks of pregnancy everything would be fine, you'd have your baby and live happily ever after.

No one warned me that your baby could just die at any stage for no reason at all.

I had a perfect pregnancy with Oliver and was due to have a scheduled C-section at 39 weeks on the 16 March 2018.

We had a 36 week scan leading up to his delivery and he was a perfect healthy boy with a strong heartbeat.

Everything was simply perfect and we had set up everything, bought everything and spread our excitement to everyone.

I was due to go to hospital early in the morning so even though I was bursting with excitement I settled down for an early night.

While falling asleep I could feel Oliver having a wriggle.

We woke up early and headed down to the hospital. I was being booked in and prepped for surgery.

Just before I went into theatre, final checks were made. The midwife put the Doppler on me to listen to Oliver’s heartbeat but there was no sound.

Thinking nothing of it as it must have been a faulty one, she went to get the mobile scanner to double-check.

Oliver had died. Our lives fell apart. 

The post-mortem could not find a cause of death. Oliver died for no reason within hours of me walking through the hospital doors that day. 

I was put under general anaesthesia to deliver him by C-section on 16th March 2018. Our lives and hearts are torn apart.