Bailey James Corless-Matthews

Before reading Baileys story.. Please sign my petition which i have created in memory of all our babies that have died.. It is to get government funding for better care for bereaved parents (THERE ISNT ENOUGH!), better awareness of baby deaths (as most people are unaware that on average 17 babies die a day in the UK due to stillbirth and neonatal death alone!), and also to get more government funding to go into the research of prevention of baby deaths.. http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/grieving-parents/
Get them to listen to us! please sign today!
Thanks

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Baby Bailey James Corless-Matthews was stillborn on the 6th March 2007 after going full-term. He was so perfect and born healthy that there were no signs of why his heart stopped beating. Many people were affected by his death, as everyone who knew about him were excited about meeting him, taking him to the park, watching him grow up. Sadly this was all taken away before anyone had the chance to see the colour of his eyes, listen to his first cry, see his first smile. He was so precious to all around him. When he was born he had the most beautiful facial features, so innocent and small. Weighing a healthy 6pounds 9and half ounces, and being 21 inches long he was special in every way. He had the cutest little button nose, and dimple chin with little chubby cheeks he was sure to be a heart-breaker. It was known by his mummy that his favourite song was 'Fast Car' by Tracy Chapmen, as inside he would kick away whenever it was played, and the more she played, the more he kicked.

Bailey meant a great deal to all who were around, and even though no time was spent together, he will forever remain in our hearts.

The 6th of March will always be remembered as the day mummy's and daddy's heart broken, it broken to give you a place, a place that will never be the same again knowing you lie there.. Word's can't explain how much you have affected lives even though little time was spent together. May you be safe in Gods Garden, and play peacefully with all the other angel babies, until the day you are back in our arms.


Baileys story.

When I found out I was pregnant with Bailey, I was deeply shocked, however knowing he was inside made me smile. I told his daddy (Andy) and all he could do was smile, we had a cry together, but it was tears of joy. Although he wasn't planned, as soon as he was found out about him, he was a much wanted baby. It wasn't until he was 13 weeks gestation that it came out I was pregnant to everyone else. It was a shock to everyone, but they soon got used to the idea..Before that I wanted to shout out my good news to everyone! I loved everypart of him, and feeling him inside gave me so much joy. Whilst I was pregnant I worked at the Waterside (a pub in Warrington) as at the time of finding out I was still in college (being only 18), and ready to go to university, so the easiest job to find was in a pub. I loved the people I worked with, and they all loved Bailey. They all helped me through my pregnancy, as I worked all hours I could just so i could buy the best for Bailey, I even volunteered to do extra hours, and take on cleaning at 6.30 in the morning for a few weeks for the extra money so i could prove to everyone I didn't need help, and to show me and Andy would manage. I loved buying new things for Bailey, I went to Manchester and spent all my money on clothes, blankets and toys for the first few months. Then once I had a big collection I went onto saving up for the bigger things. At Baileys 1st scan, me and Andy were so excited watching him move around, we cried together as it was at this point everything felt real. It was at this point we were thinking about names, where we decided it would be Bailey for a boy or Baileigh for a girl, we loved the name from the minute we read it in a baby book. We then decided the middle names James for a boy, from my late uncle, or Brooke for a girl (because it was so beautiful). At Baileys second scan, Andy was unable to come, so I went with my best friend Laura, whilst we were there Bailey wasn't willing to behave, and prefered to move around so much that the lady couldn't check everything out. We did however, find out at this point he was a boy. I then went for a third scan, this time I went with two other friends Sarah and Rachel, as Andy couldn't get it off work. This time Bailey was playing about still, but then behaved to let her check him out. He was playing peekaboo with the camera, as when she moved the camera near his face, he hid behind his hand, when she moved it he moved his hand.. I could tell from that minute he would be just like his daddy!! He gave us a wave before we went, and alls i could do was smile for the rest of the day. It was at this point I started feeling him kick, and I started playing Tracy Chapman - Fast car, as he kicked to that song the most!! Me and Andy loved watching my tummy move, and cuddling up at night, as Bailey would kick Andy in the back throughout. We spent hours watching him kick, and feeling my tummy to feel him kick. Andy used to talk to him and tell him how much he loved me and Bailey, and how he will never hurt us, and all the plans he had for him. Everyone was excited he was a boy, as it would have been Andy's mum and dad's first grandson, and it was my mum and dads first grandchild. Everything throughout my pregnancy went smooth, the only problems i had was backache and low iron i never had any other problems. I had a huge bump, everyone said he was going to be a big baby! Everyone use to ask me when he was due and did a countdown, all the customers at the pub loved talking about him. Bailey was due on the 8th March, on the 6th I started getting cramps at about 8.30am, i was so happy as i felt, 'todays the day'. I was home alone and managed to breath my way through the pains. at about mid-day my mum came home 'cos i rang her up telling her. I was easing in the bath though so i told her to go back to work, as it was easier to cope with not being mivered. I felt him kick once, and his foot rested in my side (they say this was probably the last) at about 2.30 i rang her up as the pain was getting more and more intense. I was trying to do the counting between the contractions but it was just constant. I held out until about 3.50 when i rang the hospital up, and told them i needed to come in. I got there about 4, and did a wee sample, when they were checking the heartbeat she couldn't find it. I thought nothing of it, as sometimes it took them a while to find it. She used a different machine and still couldn't find it. I was still thinking nothing of it, because I was convinced he was ok. She then used and ultrasound, and got a second opinion, and even a third. When we found out he had stopped breathing i didn't really know what to do. All my mum could say was 'im so sorry nat' and my boyfriend had gone outside because he couldn't face the news. I cried, but wasn't hysterical, I think it was because I didn't believe them. How could this happen? he was so healthy throughout, id felt him kick. As soon as i left the room, i was taken to the delivery room as my contractions were constant. I was given gas and air to help me, and said they would give me an epidural as they felt that it would be even more distressing for me if i felt everything. The epidural, however, didn't work, so i gave natural birth with just gas and air. It was 10.30 pm when Bailey was born. He was so beautiful, had my cheeks, my nose, my dimple chin, EVERYTHING! I was just waiting for him to cry.. but it never came. I was still in a state of shock and couldn't find my emotions. Everyone went home, and I went for a bath, all i could do in the bath was cry, but still i wasn't hysterical. I managed to spend the night with my baby, all i could do was stroke him and stare at him thinking about everything that had gone on and tried to understand as it was all a blur. I spent the next day with him, everyone came to visit throughout the day, we had him blessed and Andy watched them bath him. At 11pm that night, i decided it was time to go home, as if i'd of spent more time with him, it would have broken my heart even more leaving him. The next day i was straight to sort the funeral, i found if i kept busy it didn't hurt asmuch. I went into 'auto mode' no sleep, no food, just energy. He was later cremated on 16th March at Walton Lea crem,with a beautiful service by Rev. Micheal Finley. The songs chosen were Angels Wings - Westlife, Fast Car - Tracy Chapman and You'll Never Walk Alone - Gerry and the Pacemakers. The Poems read were: Footsteps in the Sand, and God Take This Child. Bailey was later buried on the 27th March in the Rose Bud Baby Garden, at Fox Covert.
I still to this day dont understand why he went, all i know is how special he is, and how much God must have needed him.

He will forever remain our special Baby Boy, and he will never be forgotton as he's locked away in our hearts.

Message to Bailey:
Mummy loves you very much, and even though your peacefully sleeping you should be here with both me and daddy playing and laughing. We had so many plans for you, bought so many things for you to enjoy you would never have missed out on anything, as we would have gave you everything just as we've gave you our hearts where you are locked away and will stay forever. We miss you so much, and we want you to know that if ever you need us, we will be there, all you need to do is look down from God's Garden and you will see us. Don't worry baby Bailey the angels will take care of you, but they must know they are the lucky ones to have you to hold.. You are mummy's angel now and will be until the day your back in my arms. I love you baby Bailey James, and I miss you dearly, just dont you forget that.

With Love Baby Bailey James Your Mummy and Daddy, Grandma and Grandad Matthews, Nanna and Grandad Corless, Great Nanna's and Grandad's,Great- Great Nanna Keating (who recently became an angel), Aunties, Uncles and Cousins..
and anyone who knew about you..

''I Know That God Must Love Me, 'Cos He Sent You To Me On Angel's Wings''



READ AT BAILEYS FUNERAL:
God Take This Child....

Sweet child whom we never really got to know,
It’s hard for us to let you go.
We waited and we wanted you.
We had so many dreams for you.

We think of smiles we'll never see.
We think of events that will never be.
There will be no first steps and no first teeth.
There is only a void and our own grief.

We planned to take you to places far and near.
We yearned to keep you safe and free from fear.
We hoped to show you much of your new world.
We wanted to teach you as your life unfurled.

It’s hard to understand why you, our baby, died.
We feel so numb right now, many tears we’ve cried.
We have so many questions and no answers seem to come.
We tried so hard to save you; nothing could be done.

God, we stand before you broken-hearted
and ask you to heal these lives that must be parted
from this little one we can no longer hold,
who will always be a part of us, even when we're old.)

God, take this child in your loving arms.
No more can he suffer any harm.
Bless him always and bless us too.
Be with us and help us to make it through.

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The money raised in Baileys name went to the charity SANDS (Stillbirth And Neonatal Death Charity) to help other familes who have also been affected..
http://www.uk-sands.org/
The charity is based on fundraising and donations, so please help other families today.
THANKYOU...
and a big thankyou to those who donated in his name. We managed to raise £250.

also: www.lifeafterloss.org.uk - site for family members who have experienced infant loss (including miscarriage).. It includes a forum and chat. :) it's a good site to talk about experiences.
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Thankyou to everyone who has been there to support us throughout this
tragic time. We wouldn't be able to cope without you.

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Thankyou to Laura (mummy of Chloe Angel, Angel Twins and baby Mark) for the lovely quote:

"He was a special blessing & we'll never forget him"