A COUPLE have raised thousands of pounds so that other parents won't have to endure the ordeal of hearing a newborn cry next door as they cradle their own stillborn child.

Stuart and Maria Grennan were heartbroken to hear another baby born in the room next door at Worcestershire Royal Hospital, as they came to terms with the news that their daughter Maggie would be stillborn.

They decided to raise money to soundproof delivery suites at the hospital after their traumatic experience.

The couple said that the moment will stay with them forever and they set up Maggie’s Legacy to stop other parents suffering the same heartbreak, raising £18,000 in the process.

Mrs Grennan, of Waveney Road, Droitwich, said: “We were having to manage the heartbreak of the news Maggie would be born asleep, when we heard the sound of a baby being born, which is a lovely sound but in our situation it was traumatic.

“It will stay with us for the rest of our lives. I don’t think we will ever forget it. If we can help one set of parents to not have that it would be amazing.

“Maggie’s stillbirth was just heart-breaking. It was just such a horrible shock as there is no way we could have prepared for it.

“We are so proud of Maggie for what she has achieved and my parents Phill and Lynn Johnson want to pass on their pride.

“We hope the money can go to soundproofing the delivery suites or training staff. Even now we still have visitors from bereavement staff and they have been with us every step of the way.

“They have been absolutely brilliant so any help in training more staff or getting them more equipment, whatever they want to do with the money.

“We are over the moon that so much money has been raised, it has almost doubled our target.”

The couple, whose baby Maggie was stillborn in December last year, handed the cheque to the Worcestershire Royal Hospital bereavement staff.

Money has been raised through events such as a barn dance at Sixways Stadium, which brought in £8,000 and individual raffles from family and friends.

To donate, visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/maggieslegacy

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is still fundraising for a bereavement suite.

A spokesman said: “We know from the conversations we have with parents how important these facilities are – a space for mothers, partners and family to go, away from the noise and bustle of the nearby maternity ward.

“We are very fortunate to have already received huge support from the local community and we are very grateful to Mr and Mrs Grennan for their support at such a difficult time. We are looking to raise a total of £60,000 so that we can go ahead with the works required to provide an additional suite as soon as possible.”

“You can support the Worcestershire Maternity Bereavement Suite appeal online at: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/worcestershire-maternity-bereavement-suite or text £AMOUNT, with the code WMBS60, to 70070.”