For the mamas - in memory of Madeline

The unexplainable loss of a baby in the third trimester is one of the hardest things a woman can experience. In New Zealand, about one in every 500 women will face a late stillbirth, losing her baby at or after 28 weeks of pregnancy. For 1 in 3 stillbirths, the cause remains unknown — something I experienced firsthand. One day you’re planning your nursery; the next, you’re making heartbreaking decisions no parent should ever have to face.

Stillbirth is a devastating and traumatic experience. Mothers not only grieve but must also endure the heartbreak of labour and giving birth to their sleeping babies.

This year, I am raising funds to create care packages for women and dads in North Shore Hospital and Auckland Hospital who have experienced third-trimester losses. These packages will carry warmth, comfort, and love to women living through the worst day of their lives — a small reminder that they are not alone.

With your help, we can bring a touch of kindness to their hospital room on a day filled with unimaginable pain. Please consider donating — together, we can wrap these mothers in care and compassion when they need it most.