Young Southwell woman asks for donations to Sands, stillbirth and neonatal deaths charity, in memory of her stillborn daughter

A mother has asked for donations to a charity instead of birthday presents, in memory of her stillborn daughter.

Linnèa Donovan, who lives in Southwell, gave birth to daughter Mia on October 19.

Linnèa, who turns 27 on Thursday, went into labour at 40 weeks and four days, with no indication that anything was wrong.

She and her partner, Jason Templeman, set off to King’s Mill Hospital.

“We were so excited that I was finally in labour after being four days overdue,” Linnèa said.

After a problem-free pregnancy, they had no reason to think anything was wrong.

“I was just a pregnant woman enjoying being pregnant who was taking my vitamins each morning, keeping active and healthy, and looking forward to meeting our baby girl,” Linnèa said.

But checks at the hospital found the baby had no heartbeat. Although coronavirus restrictions meant Jason was waiting in a corridor when Linnèa was given the news, they let him join her.

“They then got a consultant doctor in who sat for 15 minutes with sheer hope to find her heartbeat. He turned to us and confirmed she had died,” she said.

Linnèa later delivered Mia naturally.

The couple are awaiting the results of a post mortem to find out why their daughter died.

In the days and weeks after Mia’s death, Linnèa found huge support from Sands, the leading stillbirth and neonatal death charity in the UK.

She said it was comforting to share her experience with others who understood what she was going through.

“I just wanted to talk about it, about Mia,” she said. “It has been an amazing help.

“They are such a brilliant charity that have helped me so much. I want to raise awareness of how good and inspiring they are.”

She decided to mark her birthday by inviting people to make donations to the charity.

She set up a fundraiser on her Facebook page, with a target of raising £800 in a fortnight.

The two weeks end on Sunday and so far more than £4,600 has been given.

“That means so much to me,” Linnèa said. “Any donation, even if it’s a pound, helps, and goes towards this amazing charity that has especially helped me through this really tough time. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Jason’s 11-year-old daughter was looking forward to having a sister, and the couple had prepared a nursery for Mia.

They had special dresses ready for her wear on Linnèa’s birthday and at Christmas.

They have given some sleepsuits and nappies to King’s Mill Hospital, where Linnèa said the specialist bereavement midwife had been a great help.

“It was the least we could do because when I was there I heard a few of the midwives say they did not have many spare clothes available,” Linnèa said.

The hospital also arranged for professional photographs to be taken of Mia, along with footprints and a memory box.

There was a funeral for Mia, attended by just Linnèa and Jason.

“It was some sort of closure for both of us,” she said.

“I am grateful I got to have my baby girl naturally. The experience of giving birth is so amazing and I hope in the future I can have more children.

“I am coping very well, finding ways to cope, I guess. I would love for anyone who has been through the same to reach out to me if they need to. Remember you are never alone.”

The fundraising page can be found at https://www.facebook.com/donate/282124509839825/