A mum has told how she believes a 'guardian angel' appeared during the 20-week scan for her son, keeping him alive after three heartbreaking miscarriages.
Following the scan of her now-four-year-old son, Stacey Astley spotted a ghost-like face in the photo given to her by the sonographer - something which she believes protected her son William from a number of complications during the traumatic pregnancy.
"I think maybe there could be something - or someone - out there that was looking out for us this time, or giving us a little helping hand," the 38-year-old from Somerset said, adding: "Whatever it was helped my baby stay with us."
In the months leading up to her pregnancy with William, Stacey lost three babies in the space of just seven months; which she describes as "one of the most painful and emotional things I've been through."
In fact, the miscarriages were so painful and traumatic she had actually given up on the idea of becoming a mother.
"After the three miscarriages I decided my body had been through enough and needed a break. But five weeks later I found out I was pregnant. I was terrified, but had an early scan at five weeks due to my history," she recalled
"The sonographer said they were a little concerned because the implantation was right next to my cervix, but told me the pregnancy was viable."
Just a week after the initial scan, Stacey suffered a really severe bleed, which left her convinced she would miscarry for a fourth time.
"I still had to wait ten days for my next scan, bleeding the whole time and when I finally got to my appointment I had prepared myself for the worst," she said. "But then the sonographer told me there was a heartbeat!"
While Stacey was over the moon, she remained anxious after being told she had a large large haematoma, which is a blood clot, growing next to her baby and would need a scan every other week.
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Two weeks later, a frightened Stacey suffered another bleed, but her worries were eased when doctors told her the scan showed a healthy heartbeat and a growing baby.
"At my 16 week scan the haematoma was finally shrinking and at my 18 week scan it was down to half of its previous size," she continued.
"I stopped bleeding at 19 weeks and this 'guardian angel' scan photo was taken at 20 weeks - I wasn't out of the woods but I could definitely breathe a bit more."
Stacey went on to deliver William, who weighed 9lb 3oz, however he forced to go straight onto a course of intravenous antibiotics, due to contracting sepsis, but ever the fighter he completed the course and overcame the sepsis - with his mum believing their guardian angel having a part to play.
"I am forever grateful for whatever it was that helped my baby stay with us," she said. "We went through so many things designed to make him not be here but- here he is - this perfect, kind, funny, clever little human being lighting up our lives."
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