A MOTHER who lost a baby 21 weeks into her pregnancy is taking on10 challenges to raise funds for the charities which supported her family.

Laura Moisey-Smith is also aiming to raise awareness of baby loss as part of a year of fundraising to mark the 10th anniversary of her son Finlay's death.

The 39-year-old, who lives in Pickering, said: "Ten years ago my husband, Bob and I were celebrating the imminent arrival of our first child together. We’d had our first scan and were getting ready to take my eldest son, aged eight at the time, to our second scan. We, like many, were sure that everything was okay and were excited to introduce Sam to his new brother.

"Whilst watching the sonographer taking their measurements we noticed they were spending a long time at the head.and then came the moment every parent dreads and we were asked to come back the next day."

Laura, who lived in Lincolnshire at the time, was told her son's head measurements were too high and this was an indicator for some serious issues and wanted to refer us to Queen’s Medical Centre, (QMC) Nottingham.

"I was 21 weeks pregnant and by this point, was not feeling so confident about our baby’s future and it took Bob and my mum’s strength to keep me sane," she added.

"We were scanned in 4D this time. The first time to see our baby’s features moving around as if everything was fine. We were taken to a consulting room and informed that we had very little option, his chance of survival after birth was minimal and that meant only one real option."

Laura added: "Anyone who knows me knows that I adore family and would continue to have children forever if given half the chance. This was Bob’s first baby and a chance for a new start for all of us. Our world was shattering."

"The induction was slow and meant sitting in a hospital room waiting for my body to create what should have been a magical process with an amazing gift at the end. Instead I was distraught, scared, hoping it was all just a dream and I would soon wake up."

Laura said: "Finlay was brought to me in the blanket, he was beautiful just like any other newborn baby just perfect. He was so tiny but looked peaceful as if just sleeping.

"We were given counselling and life moved on but we have always remembered our son, Finlay and always will. However we move forward and after ten years I feel now is the time to say thank you in a big way, therefore I am completing ten sporting challenges to raise funds for SANDS, the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Charity and QMC, Nottingham to help other people in a similar situation and more importantly to help stop other people going through the same thing."

Laura, who is a sports coach at Pickering Junior School, and has a daughter, Imogen, nine, and son Wilson, seven, has already completed four challenges including a 10k race and swimming 22 miles at her local pool with future events including the Castle Howard triathlon and a full marathon.

"Baby loss is a taboo subject that should not be kept a secret and with more widespread knowledge and funding hopefully life will be better for all parents and babies in the future."

Anyone who would like to support Laura can do so at www.justgiving.com/10forfinlay or www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Laura-Moisey-Smith1