‘Being a mum for three days meant the world to me’: Woman’s baby son died soon after birth – but hospital ‘cuddle cot’ meant she could stay with him and even dress and wash him
Becki Wilson is now fundraising so other mums can have the same opportunity
A young woman from Manchester who got to spend three days ‘being a mum’ to her newborn son after he passed away has told what an incredible difference it made to have the extra time to say goodbye.
Little Carter-James Wilson died in Wythenshawe Hospital just 16 hours after he was born.
Mum Becki Wilson, from Edgeley in Stockport, was told 15 weeks into pregnancy that her baby boy may not live long after birth – and was offered a late termination at 25 weeks.
The 26-year-old said: “At first they told me he may not last in the womb, then as I got further into my pregnancy they said he could be severely deformed.
“They offered me the late termination and I refused – my baby was kicking, he was moving and his heart was healthy.
“I couldn’t physically see the problem and wanted to give him the best chance I could.”
After Carter-James was born, he was put onto an oxygen machine and at first responded well.
Sadly, as the night went on, the tiny tot began to struggle and reject the treatment.
Becki added: “The staff were amazing, we knew it was time and they let all the family in to see him, and let me say when.
“Saying goodbye and parting with our beautiful boy was one of the hardest things we’ve ever had to do.”
After he died, Becki was given a “cuddle cot”, which is a little blanket that goes into a crib to keep the baby at an appropriate temperature so families can spend more time with them.
Becki said: “I got to stay with my son for three days. I got to dress him, got to wash him and got to stare at him for hours like any other mother would.
“Being able to do that made a dramatic difference.
“I felt like I was able to be a mum to him, and that’s something I’ll never forget.
“I’m eternally gratefully to them for helping to make my boy's 16 hours and some time after the most magical of my life.”
Another family lost a baby after Becki and also wanted a cuddle cot, but tragically there was not one available.
Becki said it hit her "like a tonne of bricks" that they weren’t able to spend time with the child the way she had done with Carter-James, and so she launched a campaign to buy more cots so no family would be without.
So far, With Love Carter James has raised almost £400.
Becki’s auntie Cheryl Wilson, 39, says the response in just a few days has "exceeded all expectations".
Two future charity events are now in the planning, and the family hope to be able to supply cuddle cots and other vital equipment to hospitals across Greater Manchester.