A couple whose baby boy was born sleeping have been fundraising in his memory to support other families who use the bereavement suite at Walsall Manor Hospital.

Katie Perry and Liam Riley-Stewart lost their precious son Layton on 9 July this year but were able to spend time with him in the Snowdrop Room within the suite.

They have bought a special cuddle cot in little Layton’s memory and handed it over to Laura Atkinson, Specialist Bereavement Midwife, and Georgie Westley, Fundraising Manager at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust. Cuddle cots keep babies’ bodies at a cooler temperature meaning they can spend more time with their parents after they have passed away.

Katie said she and Liam had cherished the time they were able to spend with their son in this way.

“My pregnancy had been fine all the way through but I suffered a placental abruption (when the placenta separates from the inner wall of the uterus before birth),” Katie explained.

“I had come into Maternity Triage to be seen and they couldn’t find a heartbeat so I had to go through labour knowing Layton would be stillborn.  I went into practical mode, as that is my coping type of personality. But for Liam and our wider family everything was just falling apart.

“The support we had from Midwives and all staff at that time was amazing. We can’t praise them highly enough. They were so compassionate and considerate. Every time anyone came into our room on the bereavement suite they acknowledged Layton and talked about him with us. They were respectful and mindful and that means a lot when you’ve lost your baby.”

Liam, 23, who works at South Staffs Water, said the support was just as important for him as a grieving father.

“As Katie says, everyone was just in shock at what had happened. You don’t expect everything to be OK one minute then a nightmare the next. Plus Katie had to have surgery and I could have lost her too so it was such a stressful and sad time all round.”

The couple appreciated being able to use the newly refurbished bereavement suite at the hospital which is soundproofed and has calming wall vinyls throughout its two rooms as well as televisions.

“We needed to be able to spend as long as we needed to with him,” added Katie, 27. “These memories we made are important for us to share with our daughter Lyla, who’s one.”

The couple held raffles and were supported in their fundraising by donations from generous local businesses.

Bereavement Midwife Laura said: “This is a lovely Walsall family who are sharing their story this Baby Loss Awareness Week as well as taking the time to consider others through their fundraising.

“Layton will always be cherished and remembered and it’s important to talk about him and other babies born sleeping or lost during pregnancy to help us break the taboo that can exist around this difficult topic.”

The Trust’s Well Wishers charity funded the wall vinyls and TVs and added other touches to both bereavement rooms, thanks to donations made by the public.

Fundraising Manager Georgie said: “It was a privilege to meet Katie and Liam and hear all about Layton, their very loved baby boy.

“Thank you to them for all the fundraising they’ve done to buy a cuddle cot to help other families who sadly experience a loss. We wish them all the best for the future.”