It was a Tuesday evening, 21 weeks into a welcome pregnancy. I was out delivering Avon orders to customers when I noticed that I had apparently 'wet myself' a little without realising it. Thinking nothing much of it, I continued until I had finished. By the time I got home, I was a bit concerned and getting wetter. My husband had to go out briefly and while he was gone I phoned my friend who had given birth a month earlier, to ask her advice. She suggested I phone the hospital and speak to a midwife there. That's what I did. They were very understanding and reassuring, suggesting I go in so that they could take a look at what was happening. As they hadn't implied any urgency, I waited for my husband to return home and then we went to the hospital together.

At the hospital, it was confirmed that I was losing amniotic fluid and they wanted to keep an eye on any developments. I was admitted to a maternity ward and managed to get little sleep that night.

Never having experienced birth contractions, I didn't know the cause of the pain I had early the next morning. I was offered pethidine which I gratefully accepted and was moved to a single room. My husband was asked to come to the hospital - he was at work by then and the message was that I was in some pain and he should come, but that it wasn't urgent. When he eventually arrived, he was shocked to see just how much pain!

Within a short time of his arrival, the water sac burst and I gave birth to Kathryn Verity at 10.15am. She weighed just 390g. Born with a heartbeat, we took it in turns to hold her until her heart stopped. There was nothing to be done as she was too young. Someone went to get a camera and took some (very precious) photographs for us.

I went into surgery to ensure that everything had been expelled. After a few hours recovery, I was released from the hospital at about 9.30pm that same evening (at my own insistence - they would have preferred me to have stayed in for longer).

We had a funeral for Katie. She was buried in the 'baby garden' of a local cemetery.