Mum-of-13 speaks of her heartache at miscarrying a baby

HEARTBROKEN: Derek and Deborah Simpson have spoken out about their experience in a bid to highlight the issue of miscarriage.

SUPERMUM Deborah Simpson has spoken out about the harrowing experience of losing her latest baby.

The Murray mother-of-13 had a miscarriage seven weeks ago and the whole family are still trying to come to terms with the loss.

She told the News she had decided to speak about her miscarriage in a bid to highlight an issue that affects many families every year, but which is a subject rarely spoken about.

Deborah, 42, said: “I think there is a lack of information available for women who have lost a baby and it is such a traumatic time.

“I lost another baby, Gabriel, in 2004 and, when I left the hospital, I was given a few leaflets. This time, however, I didn’t even get that.

“In my opinion, there should be more support given to women at this time in their lives.”

Deborah, who is the mother of Scotland’s largest family, said she and her husband and children had been delighted when they learned she was pregnant again.

But, just nine weeks into the pregnancy, she was told by doctors that her baby had died in the womb.

Said Deborah: “I was devastated.

“Some of the younger ones don’t really understand and still ask when the baby is coming, which is really heartbreaking.

Deborah and her husband, Derek, 43, who works for the Department for International Development, decided to name the baby.

They called it Krinken, after a character in a Eugene Field poem.

Deborah explained: “I have always loved the poem; it is really beautiful and is about a child who is taken away by the sea.

“I was only nine weeks gone when I miscarried so it was too early to tell if the baby was a boy or a girl, so this name seemed quite nice as it could be used for either sex.”

The couple — whose children are Orlando, 16 months; Olias, 2; Celeste, three; Jade, six; Lewis, seven; Nathan, nine; Amee, 10; Christopher, 12; Cameron, 13; Benjamin, 14; Natalie, 16; Kimberley, 18, and Chloe, 21 — said they will never forget Krinken and claim they still hope to have a 14th baby.
Deborah said: “Although I would be really nervous if I fell pregnant again, I love children and would like to have another baby.”

Deborah said she received a lot of support from The Miscarriage Association and has urged other women in her position to seek as much help and advice as they can.

She added: “I have good days and bad days but having a support network makes a big difference.

“It is a really tough time and women should take advantage of any help they can get.”

Deborah has been keeping herself busy by working on her fifth book, which is about looking after her huge family during school holidays.

Source: http://iclanarkshire.icnetwork.co.uk/eknews/news/tm_headline=mum-of-13-speaks-of-her-heartache-at-miscarrying-a-baby&method=full&objectid=19928687&siteid=50144-name_page.html