I'll never know if aspirin could have saved my baby, says Dudley woman

A woman who lost her son at 40 weeks pregnancy says she will never know if he would have survived had she been informed about the benefits of low-dose aspirin.

Jade Dunn, from Dudley, has now launched a parliamentary petition calling for information to be routinely made available, and has won the support of her MP Sonia Kumar.

So far the petition has attracted more than 1,000 signatures. If it reaches 10,000, it will be debated in the House of Commons.

Miss Dunn, 28, from the Russells Hall Estate, lost baby Noah following complications caused by placental insufficiency, despite being told he was a healthy baby throughout pregnancy.

It was only after his death that Miss Dunn was advised that, in some pregnancies, low-dose aspirin can improve placental blood flow and reduce the risk of complications.

Miss Dunn, a social worker who specialises in child welfare, now wants all mothers-to-be to receive advice about this.

"Noah was loved, wanted and so desperately hoped for,” she said.

“Nothing can bring him back, but if sharing our story helps another family avoid the pain we have experienced, then his legacy will live on.

“If we had this little bit of information, would Noah have lived? We will never know, it’s easy to say these things after the event. But it could, perhaps have given him the chance.

“It won’t be right for every woman, it isn’t a case of one size fits all.

“This petition is about informed choice. Parents should have access to information about all appropriate options during pregnancy so they can make decisions alongside their healthcare team. I hope people will take a moment to read Noah's story and support the campaign."

Miss Kumar, MP for Dudley, said she fully supported the campaign.

“Meeting Jade and hearing Noah's story was incredibly moving. No parent should ever have to endure the heartbreak that Jade and her family have experienced.

“What struck me most was Jade's determination to turn unimaginable personal tragedy into positive change. Her campaign is not about telling women what decisions they should make during pregnancy. It is about ensuring expectant parents have access to information and can make informed choices in partnership with healthcare professionals.

“Every family deserves the opportunity to ask questions, understand their options and make decisions based on the best available evidence. I am proud to support Jade's campaign and help raise awareness of her petition."

Happily, Miss Dunn is pregnant again, and she and partner Liam Jones, 33, are expecting a baby girl in September. She says help and advice she has been receiving from the team at Russells Hall Hospital has been excellent.

But while she is looking forward to the birth of her daughter, it is a bittersweet experience.

“I still imagine how different life would have been had Noah lived,” she says.

The petition is currently open for signatures and calls on the Government to ensure routine discussions about low-dose aspirin are included within maternity care where appropriate.

Residents wishing to support the campaign can sign the petition at petition.parliament.uk/petitions/764137