Pregnancy is a beautiful miracle that most of us get to enjoy. But what happens when not everything goes to plan and you’re told your bundle of joy isn’t going to make it to full-term? Channel 4’s ‘A child of Mine’ explores the journey of three couples who experience their babies being stillborn.
Screen shot from Channel 4, All 4 website
One mum, Fiona, talks about her pregnancy after having suffered a stillborn birth one year prior. It opens up the conversation of how the experience of pregnancy can be tainted after the loss of a child due to the expectation that history will repeat itself. Fiona shows the audience the memory box the midwives put together for her and her partner so they can remember their baby girl – this really gets the waterworks going so grab some tissues and a pillow while hearing about the loss of Fiona’s first born. Fiona is now subject to more scans to ensure the safety and wellbeing of her second daughter.
When 26 weeks pregnant Vicky experiences a reduction of movements and is told her daughter no longer has a heartbeat. It’s hard to watch as Vicky blames herself while waiting to give birth to her daughter, Ruby, that she missed a sign that there was something wrong.
Screen shot from Channel 4, All 4 website
Kezia’s pregnancy has double the risk of having a stillborn as she is expecting twins, which were conceived through IVF. Sadly, one of her babies doesn’t make it to full term, making it difficult for her to celebrate the life of twin one as well as mourn the life of twin two.
Screen shot from Channel 4, All 4 website
Not only does the film look at how stillborn births can affect the lives of those who experience it but looks at it from a medical point of view as well. It’s refreshing to see a feature length film on this topic as it affects 1 in 225 pregnancies a year in the UK.
The film was shown last night at 10pm on Channel 4, which begs the question why this had to be such late viewing. This is a topic we should be able to speak about openly with people of all ages, without the restrictions of the watershed. Although the topic is sensitive, it shouldn’t bring people shame to talk about their experience.
Watch full film on Channel 4 website
https://www.channel4.com/