Amy Gibbons

I’m taking part in Sands Ribbon Run

On Saturday 10th October, I’ll be taking part in the Sands Ribbon Run for the second year, alongside my partner Calum, Danielle, my dad Nick, Calum’s dad Jay and his stepdad Damo! 

I wish more than anything that I didn’t have a reason to run for Sands, but after losing three babies in less than a year this charity and everything it stands for means more to me and my family than I could ever put into words.

In September 2025, our world changed. We attended a private scan surrounded by our family, including my then 5 year old stepson, excited and expecting to see our baby. Instead we heard the words no parent ever wants to hear - “i’m sorry there’s no heartbeat”

I had experienced a missed miscarriage. Our baby’s heartbeat had stopped at 6 weeks but my body had continued carrying our baby until almost 13 weeks. Walking into that room full of hope and leaving knowing our baby had died is something I will never ever forget.

In December 2025 we found out we were pregnant again. We allowed ourselves to hope that this time might be different, but on New Year’s Day I started bleeding. We lost our second baby at around 5–6 weeks in a chemical pregnancy.

In January, I became pregnant for a third time and in March, we attended another private scan and saw our little baby wriggling away on the screen. They were growing, moving and everything appeared healthy. After everything we had already been through, seeing our baby moving gave us so much hope.

On 8th April, I attended my 12-week scan with my dad. I was apprehensive because of our previous losses, but I was still holding onto so much hope.

Then came those words again.

“I’m sorry, there’s no heartbeat.”

There really are no words to describe that moment. Gut-wrenching and soul-destroying don't even come close.

I had carried our baby until 13 weeks. Following the loss, I needed surgery and we later discovered that the pregnancy had been a partial molar pregnancy. Our baby was sent away for testing and I also needed close follow-up monitoring because of the molar pregnancy and the complications that can come with it.

After a lot of back and fourth with the hospital, our baby was returned to us. We were able to bring them home and have a small, beautiful burial with a blossom tree—a special place where our baby will always be remembered 🌸

Three pregnancies. Three babies loved from the moment we knew they existed. Three losses that have changed us forever. 

The grief of baby loss is something nobody can truly understand until they have lived through it. Alongside the losses themselves, we have also experienced trauma surrounding hospital care and the aftercare that followed. I am currently undergoing trauma therapy due to our losses. 

It has shown me just how important it is that families experiencing pregnancy and baby loss have somewhere to turn and feel supported, heard and feel less alone.

That is why I am taking part in the Sands Ribbon Run again this year. This year feels particularly special because I won’t be running alone. Calum, my dad, Calum’s dad and his stepdad will all be running alongside me, in memory of our three babies and to support other families experiencing the unimaginable.

Every donation, no matter how small, will help Sands continue supporting bereaved parents and families when they need it most.

We’ll be running for our babies, for every family who has had to leave a scan or hospital without their baby, and for the little lives that were here for far too short a time but will be loved for a lifetime 🤍🌈

Our babies will always be part of our family, and on 10th October, every step we take will be for them👼🏼👼🏼👼🏼