Heartbroken: Amanda Holden and her husband Chris Hughes have gone away to grieve after their baby boy was stillborn
Amanda Holden will ‘never be the same again’ following the agony of losing a baby son seven months into her pregnancy, a friend said yesterday.
The actress and Britain’s Got Talent judge, who was due to give birth at the end of March, has been taken into seclusion by her husband Chris Hughes.
Miss Holden, 39, was admitted to hospital last Tuesday after complaining that she had not felt the baby kick for a day. Doctors were unable to save his life.
The friend described the little boy as ‘physically perfect’, telling the Daily Mail: ‘There is no reason for this at the moment, the doctors have no idea what happened.
‘Amanda was filming the BGT auditions in Birmingham the day before and just said she was popping to the hospital for reassurance as she had not felt the baby kick. Up until then, he had been really active and she kept saying that he was a real squirmer.
‘The next thing we knew, Chris rang up to say what had happened.’
When Miss Holden broke the news four weeks ago that she was six months pregnant, she revealed that she had waited so long to make the announcement after suffering a miscarriage last year.
She even waited until two weeks ago to show off her bump.
The friend added: ‘At the moment, Amanda is just unable to function, I don’t think it’s even begun to properly sink in yet.
‘She will never be the same person after this. The baby was physically perfect, just beautiful. Amanda had regular scans all the way along her pregnancy, and they showed that everything was fine. There was absolutely no warning.’
Miss Holden and Mr Hughes, a record executive, face a traumatic few weeks until tests reveal why their son failed to survive.
The actress is under sedation and the friend added: ‘The worst will come when the drugs wear off and the reality sets in. She was due to give birth at the end of March and she was so nearly there.
‘The very reason why Amanda kept her pregnancy a secret was because she didn’t want to go through that agony in public, which is what makes everything so much more upsetting.’
Miss Holden stayed at the West Middlesex hospital in Isleworth for two days before returning home with her husband of two years on Thursday.
Traumatic: The pair had deliberately kept the baby secret until just four weeks ago when the TV presenter was apparently past the more dangerous stages of her pregnancy
She was due to film some promotional clips for Britain’s Got Talent today but her agents have ‘cleared the decks’ of work for the foreseeable future.
The ITV talent show is due back on air in May, and Miss Holden was also due to have a starring role as Princess Fiona in West End musical Shrek, which also premieres in May.
But the friend said: ‘It’s far too early to have a conversation about work.
‘Chris has taken Amanda away – they just want to grieve together in private. They are a strong, solid couple and they just want to be alone together right now.’
Interviewed last year about her miscarriage, Miss Holden said: ‘It was without doubt the blackest period of my life.
‘I have such a charmed and lovely life and I just never imagined I would miscarry a baby. Never. You never think it might happen to you.
‘Something went wrong. I certainly wasn’t expecting anything to but sometimes Mother Nature lets you down.
‘I was an absolute mess. Poor Chris was too but he was amazing.’
Miss Holden’s spokesman Alison Griffin released a statement saying: ‘They are utterly devastated. Amanda had been closely monitored throughout her pregnancy and it is not yet known what went wrong.
‘Both Chris and Amanda would like to thank the midwives and staff at the Queen Mary Maternity unit at West Middlesex Hospital for their tremendous support.’
She told the Mail last night: ‘Amanda and Chris would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of love they have received.’
Miss Holden’s showbusiness friends used Twitter yesterday to give messages of support.
Former BGT colleague Piers Morgan wrote: ‘So desperately sad for my special friend Amanda Holden – sending her and Chris my love and prayers at this horrible time.’
He added: ‘Thanks for all your messages for Amanda and Chris, they will really appreciate it. They’re both absolutely devastated, feel so sad for them.’
Former Spice Girl Emma Bunton, who is pregnant with her second child, wrote: ‘Absolutely devastated for Amanda Holden and Chris. Thinking of them and sending our prayers at this very sad time.’
Sorrow: James Corden, whose fiancee Julia Carey is pregnant, sent his 'love and prayers' to Amanda
Support: Ex-Spice Girl Emma Bunton sent her prayers to Amanda and Chris
Myleene Klass, who is also expecting a child, added: ‘My sweetheart. I’m so very sorry. Please God, watch over your family and your little angel in heaven. X’
Davina McCall tweeted: ‘Just heard the news about Amanda Holden. So sorry. Thinking of you and Chris.’
Actress Sarah Parish, who starred with Miss Holden in the BBC drama Cutting It, lost her first child, Ella-Jayne, at eight months old in 2009.
She wrote: ‘My love and prayers go out to a very dear friend today. Keep strong my angel.’
WHAT MAY HAVE GONE WRONG...AND WHERE TO FIND HELP
Almost one in 100 pregnancies ends in a stillbirth in the three months before the baby is due.
One of the most common causes is problems to the placenta – the lifeline providing the baby with oxygen and nourishment as it grows in the womb.
Abnormally high blood pressure in the mother or blood clots can lead to the placenta suddenly separating from the wall of the womb, starving the baby of oxygen. A twisted umbilical cord could do the same.
Stillbirth can also occur when a baby has a genetic or chromosomal abnormality. While scans and tests can show up many problems early in pregnancy, they are not perfect. In some cases, bacteria carried by the mother can travel to the womb, with disastrous consequences.
But the vast majority of stillbirths occur without explanation.
Professor Andrew Shennan, of the baby charity Tommy’s, said: ‘Early miscarriages are devastating but when the pregnancy is further along and perhaps one has bonded greater and it is more apparent to friends, it can be harder.’
Source:Dailymail
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