Ben and Marina Fogle are set to star in a new film to help parents who have experienced baby loss as part of a charity appeal.
The couple were heartbroken by a miscarriage in 2008 before having their son Ludo in 2009 and daughter Iona in 2011, while their son Willem was then tragically stillborn in 2014 at 33 weeks.
Marina, 42, who said she felt ‘numb’ after Willem’s birth, was led to Tommy’s, the UK’s biggest charity funding research to find out why pregnancy goes wrong and how this can be prevented.
Documentary: Ben and Marina Fogle are set to star in a new film to help parents who have experienced baby loss
She said: ‘I was 33 weeks pregnant when I suddenly fell ill. At the hospital, I started bleeding heavily, so I was rushed in for an emergency caesarean. Our son Willem was stillborn.
‘Initially, I was in shock and very ill; I met our son, I held him, but I was feeling very numb. It was three or four days later that the tears came. It was incredibly sad, the realisation that the baby we’d prepared for was never coming home.
‘At the time, we had no idea that one in four pregnancies end in loss during pregnancy or birth – a frankly terrifying statistic. That’s why Ben and I support Tommy’s.’
Marina told how she turned to exercise and ran a marathon to help ‘recover emotionally and physically’.
Tragic: The couple were heartbroken by a miscarriage in 2008 before having their son Ludo in 2009 and daughter Iona in 2011, while their son Willem was then tragically stillborn in 2014 at 33 weeks
She said: ‘I was lucky to survive the placental abruption that killed my son. While trying to recover emotionally and physically, I found exercising really cathartic, which is how I ended up running a half marathon for Tommy’s.
‘As soon as I heard their ground-breaking research was already having a significant effect on saving babies’ lives, I had to get involved.
‘I hope my support for Tommy’s will ensure that my children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren will become parents in a world where baby loss is extremely unlikely to affect them in the way it has me.
‘It comforts me to know that, thanks to Tommy’s pioneering research, other families will not have to experience the heartbreak we did.’
Family: Marina, 42, who said she felt ‘numb’ after Willem’s birth, was led to Tommy’s, the UK’s biggest charity funding research to find out why pregnancy goes wrong and how this can be prevented
Explaining more about why the couple made the film, Ben, 47, added: ‘One in four pregnancies end in miscarriage, stillbirth or premature birth – and shockingly, most parents never find out why.
‘The truth is that so much pregnancy loss could be prevented, but we need more research to improve care; that’s why I’m a huge advocate for Tommy’s and it’s a charity very close to my heart.
‘Across the UK, Tommy’s dedicated researchers, doctors, nurses and midwives are finding causes and treatments to save babies’ lives. More research will make pregnancy safer and healthier for everyone and save babies’ lives. Together, we can make it happen.’
Marina previously appeared on Loose Women and told how her husband ‘completely lost his confidence’ after their baby boy was stillborn.
She added that people would ask ‘Ben the whole time how I was doing, but very few asked how he was doing’, explaining how she believes the ‘male perspective’ following the loss of a baby needs to discussed more.
She said: I met our son, I held him, but I was feeling very numb. It was three or four days later that the tears came. It was incredibly sad, the realisation that the baby we’d prepared for was never coming home’
Speaking about how she felt after having a stillborn birth, Marina said: ‘I felt very isolated in terms of how to cope with it.
‘I had no friends who I could have coffee with, and say “Is this normal?”‘
Marina explained how it is important that fathers talk openly following the loss of a baby, as well as mother.
She added: ‘I found people asked Ben the whole time I was doing, but very few asked how he was doing.
Marina added: ‘At the time, we had no idea that one in four pregnancies end in loss during pregnancy or birth – a frankly terrifying statistic’
‘We experienced grief in different ways. We need to be discussing it from the male perspective as well. Very often, they feel the impact a little bit later.
‘Certainly for Ben, he totally lost his confidence, three, four months afterwards, when I was just getting back on my feet again.
‘He totally regressed, and found it very difficult to talk about.’
The film, Tommy’s, airs on Saturday February 27 and will be repeated on BBC2 at 3.10pm on Tuesday 2 March and available to watch all month on iPlayer.
Ben said: ‘The truth is that so much pregnancy loss could be prevented, but we need more research to improve care’ (pictured with their children in 2013)