A mother who lost her baby when she was 38 weeks pregnant has urged families not to “bottle up” their feelings.

Gemma Parry and her partner Dean found out during a scan in August last year that their son Ronnie had died.

Gemma recalled: “Our whole world came crashing down. I’d lost family members, but burying your baby is something else.”

After Gemma was taken to the Snowdrop suite at Queen’s Hospital in Romford to be induced and after Ronnie was born, Gemma and Dean were supported by bereavement midwives as they spent time with their son and took prints of his hands and feet.

The couple, who live in Chadwell Heath, have since gone on to have a baby boy called Archie, and joined by Gemma’s 11-year-old daughter Kaylea, they recently marked what would have been Ronnie’s first birthday.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series: Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS TrustBarking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (Image: Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust)

This Saturday, they will be taking part in a Wave of Light at Havering town hall as part of Baby Loss Awareness Week.

Gemma said: "It’s important we’re more open in talking about it, so people know they’re not alone. It’s such a taboo subject and people don’t know what to say.

“I love to talk about Ronnie, and include him, to keep him alive within us. Everyone’s different but if we have more conversations, people will know how to help those who are going through it.”