The baby’s heart was not beating

The Catholic Herald this week carries an incredibly moving piece by a young mother responding to the death of her unborn child. Here is an excerpt, but it is simple, sad and beautiful so really worth reading in full.

My 20-week scan found that the baby’s heart was not beating. We decided to induce the delivery. The next day, at 1pm, we went to the clinic. They gave me pills that would start the contractions.

I decided not to take painkillers, as I realised that this was going to be the only effort, the only sacrifice, one of the only physical interactions, that I would have with the baby, although he was dead.