Bolton: Couple hoping for memorial space after death of baby

Natasha Entwistle, 28, from Breightmet, gave birth to Dominic on November 18, 2017, at just over 35 weeks pregnant, but he was stillborn.

She says she had a “completely healthy pregnancy” until she woke up in the middle of the night on November 16, and realised Dominic was not moving.

'I was just in complete shock'

She said: “I spoke to my mum before I went to the hospital, and I don’t remember the two days before I rang the hospital and it’s such a blur.

@mrstashaentwistle You taught me what love is 💙👼🏻 #babyboy #son #love #stillbornstillloved #stillbirthawareness #babyloss #bereavedparent #fyp #foryoupage #foryou ♬ You Taught Me What Love Is (Britain's Got Talent Live Recording) - Beth Porch

“I was just in complete shock because it happened to a friend, but you never think it’s going to happen to you.

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“I was in autopilot almost, but I was brave enough to phone the midwife on November 18 and they got me in straight away.

“When we drove to Salford Royal Hospital on November 18, I had a monitor on my tummy, and a stethoscope, and they couldn’t find a heartbeat.

Dominic Anthony Entwistle (Image: Public)

'I knew he had gone before the midwife spoke'

“It was picking up my heartbeat, and I could tell that something was wrong, and the hospital was really busy.

“When we went for a scan, we knew it was not going to be good news.”

Natasha also has kidney disease and so she knew what she was looking out for when she was having the scan.

She could also see that Dominic was not moving, and there was no blood flow through his umbilical cord.

Natasha said: “I knew he had gone before the midwife spoke.

“It was very sudden and unexpected.

“The midwives were just as shocked as me and my husband Ryan were, and we had grown quite close during our time there.”

Ryan Entwistle with Natasha Entwistle and their baby boy Dominic Anthony Entwistle (Image: Public)A few days before Dominic died Natasha went for a routine scan and Dominic’s movements were normal on November 14.

'I still have a lot of anxiety, and a constant fear of losing one of our children again'

One thing that Natasha and Ryan will never know is exactly why Dominic died.

Each day is different, but Natasha says she has more good days than bad days.

Natasha said: “It has been the worst thing I will ever go through in my life, and I know my husband feels the same.

“Even though I have gone on to have two children, I still have a lot of anxiety, and a constant fear of losing one of our children again.

Dominic Anthony Entwistle (Image: Public)“It’s unimaginable and I have moments where I think ‘gosh, our child really died’, and it makes me appreciate life that little bit more. And I realise how precious my kids are, and I don’t want to miss a moment we have with our children.

“Dominic is living proof of how short life can be.

'We need a place to go and start our healing journey'

“Ryan’s grief is often overlooked and it’s so important to me that people realise that the dads matter too.

“I look forward to more people learning the name of the boy who made us parents.”

Now the family are hoping to raise enough money for a memorial space (www.gofundme.com/f/dominic-anthony-entwistle) after not having anywhere to go since Dominic died, more than six years ago.

Natasha Entwistle and her baby boy Dominic Anthony Entwistle (Image: Public)Natasha added: “I had Dominic cremated and I have his ashes at home.

“This memorial area means that when I am missing him and the grief is too heavy, and I want to get out the house, this can be somewhere we can go as a family.

“It will mean so much to us.

'I love being a mum, but it is tainted with sadness on what I am missing with Dominic'

“We need a place to go and start our healing journey, which will also help our two children Lydia, five, and Toby, two, understand and remember their brother more.

“We have pictures on the wall, but they don’t fully understand because he is not here anymore.

“I love the fact I have been given a second chance at raising children.

Remembering Dominic Anthony Entwistle at Ryan and Natasha Entwistle's wedding last year (Image: Public)“Lydia was born just 10 months after Dominic, and I feel like every milestone she has she’s showing me what I am missing with a child of a similar age. And Toby reminds me of what it’s like to raise a boy like Dominic.

“I love being a mum, but it is tainted with sadness on what I am missing with Dominic.”

Natasha and Ryan got married last year, on what would have been Dominic’s sixth birthday.

Once they have raised the money they need, they will have their own plot at East Lancashire Crematorium with a plaque with Dominic’s name on.

Ryan with Dominic Anthony Entwistle (Image: Public)Natasha has continued to raise awareness about baby loss since Dominic died, including a sky dive with Ryan where they raised £2,000 for bereavement charity Sands, and a fundraiser with travel toiletries for the unit where Dominic died.

Natasha regularly shares posts to get people to open up about baby loss on her Tik Tok @MrsTashaEntwistle.

If you have a story and something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at jasmine.jackson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @JournoJasmine.