CHLOE Whiting was only 24 years old when she lost her first child - and she is now hoping to break the stigma of talking about baby loss.

Her daughter, Ella, was born two weeks early on February 19, 2013. Ella was only 1lb 10oz and was quite weak, but Ms Whiting described her as "a tiny miracle".

"She was perfectly formed, she had 10 fingernails, she had all her eyelashes and her eyebrows, you know she was a baby, but just tiny and she was strong," said Ms Whiting.

"She was born in the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport and she was doing amazing.

"She went up and down, I had a couple of times where we thought we were going to lose her but she bounced back - she was really strong and doing amazing.

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"Then we had a phone call in the early hours on March 25, 2013 just to say she was gravely ill so we needed to go straight in."

Ella passed away on March 25, 2013 from a gut infection called Necrotising Enterocolitis (NEC) that caused her to go into septic shock. She was 30 days old.

"It was awful as any anybody would tell you as it is for anyone to lose any member of their family, it's awful," said Ms Whiting.

"I'd never been to a funeral before so her funeral was my first funeral and it was horrific.

"I'd had a miscarriage as well the year before so it was quite a traumatic couple of years.

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"The first couple of months was quite a blur, I got into the sort of routine where I told myself I had to go to a grave every day, even if it was just for five minutes, I had to go.

"There was no other way of seeing her and I had to go.

"Later that year I did fall pregnant with my son and to be quite honest, he saved me."

Despite Ella's death, Ms Whiting wants to make her gratitude to the staff at the Royal Gwent clear and thanks them for giving her and her partner six precious weeks with their daughter.

Ms Whiting did receive counselling after Ella died, but even today still feels anxiety over the safety of her children, Corey and Megan, whenever they fall ill or whenever the family are out and about.

Eight years on from Ella's death, Ms Whiting feels that more should be done to break the taboo of talking openly about losing a child.

She has been supporting Sands (Stillbirth and neonatal death charity) with their Baby Loss Awareness Week - which launches today, October 9, and runs until Friday, October 9 - for years after she was put in touch with the organisation by staff from the hospital.

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Ms Whiting said: "There's this whole thing around miscarriage and child loss in general that people don't talk about it, or they're too scared to talk about it or too scared to ask about it.

"Just to get people talking because I've known people who have been too afraid to ask about Ella, to ask about what was wrong with her, why was she born early, why did she die.

"They are too afraid of upsetting you, or it's just the stigma around it."

However, she is aware that some, like her partner Jonathan Morgan, do not want to talk openly about losing a baby and that is okay too.

She said: "I do know that there is some people out there that don't want to talk about it.

"But in my head I think if I don't talk about it, then I'm afraid people forget.

"I love it when people ask me about Ella."

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Chloe Whiting with her family, son Corey, daughter Megan and partner Jonathan Morgan

One of Gwent's most visible attractions is also marking the week.

As a local of Blaenavon, Ms Whiting approached Big Pit to see if they would light up the landmark in pink and blue to support Baby Loss Awareness Week.

As a result, Big Pit have agreed to her request so the gearheads will be lit up in pink and blue between October 9 and October 15.

Kathryn Jenkins, communications officer for Big Pit, said: "This is something that we felt really strongly that we wanted to support.

"We've had approaches before to do something like this but it hasn't always been possible from a technical point of view, but we are more able to do it now.

"I see this as a way really of reconnecting to the community as well and just showing that we are supportive."

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As part of the week, there will be a global 'Wave of Light' from 7pm on Friday, October 15, for one hour, where candles are lit in remembrance of all the babies who have died.

Other landmarks around the world will be lit up in pink and blue to support the mothers and fathers who have lost their children.

For anybody struggling with the loss of their baby, Ms Whiting had a few words of advice.

She said: "Just say their name, talk about them to anyone that will listen and don't ever apologise for talking about them.

"Never feel uncomfortable for telling someone that you had a child and they're no longer here because they'll always be a part of your life.

"Just talk about them keep their memory alive, because this it is comforting."

For more information, or help and support from Sands, visit https://www.sands.org.uk/about-sands/our-work/baby-loss-awareness-week-2021