‘Meant the world to us’: How Leopold couple spent three days with their stillborn son

A Leopold couple was able to spend three precious days with their stillborn baby thanks to special technology. Now, they’re on a mission to help other families experiencing pregnancy loss.

Joel and Katelyn Hughes are fundraising to buy a cuddle cot for a hospital without one after their baby was born still at 26 weeks. Picture: Alan Barber

A Leopold couple spent three precious days with their stillborn baby thanks to special technology and are now on a missiont o help other families experiencing pregnancy loss.

After more than five years trying to conceive and nine rounds of IVF, Katelyn and Joel Hughes were expecting their first baby in August this year.

Mrs Hughes, 27, said it was “the happiest day of our lives” when they found out she was expecting.

“Our whole family was over the moon,” she said.

But at a routine growth scan at 26 weeks in early May, nurses found their baby’s heart had stopped beating.

“As soon as they put the ultrasound wand on my belly, they said there was no heartbeat,” Mrs Hughes said.

“Our whole world came crashing down.

“There was so much sadness and fear and guilt … so much just rushes through your head.

“Nobody ever thinks they are going to be in that situation so nobody prepares you.”

Their baby boy, Fletcher Joel Hughes, was born still via c-section on May 2, weighing 860g.

Before Mrs Hughes delivered Fletcher at St John of God hospital in Geelong, she asked the hospital staff if she and her family would be able to spend some time with him.

“We thought it might be similar to a miscarriage and they would just take our baby,” she said.

“(The nurses) explained they had a cuddle cot and they brought it in to show us.”

A cuddle cot has a temperature controlled mattress and allows a stillborn bub’s body to stay cool, giving parents time with their baby and allowing them to grieve and say goodbye.

Mr and Mrs Hughes had not heard of a cuddle cot before Fletcher was born still but it meant they were able to spend three extra days with their son.

“That meant the world to us,” she said.

“The cuddle cot allowed us to introduce to him our family, our mums and siblings got to meet him and hold him.”

Mrs Hughes said the cuddle cot helped to make the healing process of losing their baby just a little bit easier.

Joel and Katelyn Hughes are fundraising to buy a cuddle cot for a hospital without one after their baby was born still at 26 weeks. Picture: Alan Barber

“We were able to make some memories with him but so many other people don’t get that opportunity,” she said.

Six babies are stillborn every day in Australia, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

The Hughes family is now hoping to raise $6500 to buy a cuddle cot for a hospital without one.

“We were so thankful for the gift another family gave us by raising money and donating a cuddle cot that we used,” Mrs Hughes said.

“We can’t in good conscience not use out story to make sure more families have that opportunity.

“We want Fletcher to be remembered in a positive way and for his memory to live on for a long time.”

To donate, visit makeadifference.gofundraise.com.au/page/katelyn.

The content summaries were created with the assistance of AI technology, then edited and approved for publication by an editor.

Originally published as ‘Meant the world to us’: How Leopold couple spent three days with their stillborn son