July 28th 2015 should have been the day we welcomed our daughter Amelia into the world. So I'd like to take the opportunity to tell you something to find a positive in our overwhelming negative, in the hope it can prevent someone else suffering like we have.

Have you ever heard of HELLP Syndrome? I hadn't. 

Do you know the symptoms? I didn't. 

But not only was I unaware, the hospital I visited three times failed to diagnose it too as they had never heard of it either. 

They say knowledge is power, so I hope by sharing our story and some facts about HELLP, it could potentially save the lives of mothers and babies in the future. 

H - Hemolysis (the breakdown of red cells)

EL - Elevated liver enzymes

LP - Low platelet count

I was 27 weeks pregnant when it began. I woke up one morning with a dull ache in my shoulder, I assumed I had slept funny and thought no more of it.

As the day went on, the ache continued to spread down my arm and felt like a circulation problem. By the next day I had the feeling of a tight chest and was struggling to breathe.

We visited A&E where I was kept in. Over the next 24 hours I was told I had low platelets and elevated liver functions, but they didn't know why and were testing for a gallbladder problem. 

In total I was seen by approximately 50 medical staff.

It was only after I'd been in hospital for longer than 24 hours on my second visit that my baby’s heartbeat was even checked for the first time since my pain started. She was fine, but they wanted to monitor her heart for 30 minutes. 

It was 45 minutes later when a midwife came to do this. Her heartbeat was gone.

I was rushed to a specialist unit where it was confirmed my daughter had died. I was alone, unprepared for this news and heartbroken. 

I had HELLP Syndrome. 

Over the next 24 hours I was induced, unable to have much pain relief because of how critically unstable my body was. I had to have a platelet transfusion as mine dropped to 10 (usual levels are 150-450), and extra blood on standby as mine couldn't clot. 

My loved ones were left waiting, stood by my bedside not knowing if I'd live. 

I still hadn't realised how ill I was until I googled HELLP syndrome. 

It's life threatening. It works fast. It can't be prevented, but early detection is key to saving lives. 

If you'd asked me before, I'd have said 1 in 1000 meant it hardly ever happens. But it does happen. 

I have since had to bury my firstborn. 

I chose to speak out so maybe someone else going through the same doesn't feel so alone. 

Familiarise yourself with the symptoms. Make it more heard of. Don't be afraid to speak out if you think there's something wrong. 

The pain will always stay with us, but if we can help others it will help ease it. 

Lorna x