A devastated High Wycombe couple who discovered their unborn baby had no heartbeat during a scan at 40 weeks have donated a special cot to a hospital labour ward in memory of their son.

Alison Bowler and partner Chris Paget sadly discovered their unborn baby had no heartbeat during a scan on February 2 this year, when Alison was 40 weeks pregnant.

The next day, Alison gave birth to their “beautiful” baby Charlie John Paget at Stoke Mandeville Hospital.

She said: “He was perfect, cute beyond words. We cuddled him, bathed and dressed him, loved him. To hold him in our arms and have to say goodbye, and come home without him was heart breaking.”

The couple, along with their older son Ryley, 12, got to spend more time with Charlie thanks to a cold cot – also known as a cuddle cot – a specialised piece of equipment that fits into a Moses basket and is designed to keep baby cool to allow bereaved parents to spend extra time with their baby.

Alison, Chris and Ryley visited Stoke Mandeville Hospital again on August 1 to donate a cold cot they bought in memory of Charlie, after raising more than £2,200.

The family set up a JustGiving page and sold bracelets and badges for the charity 4Louis, which helps bereaved families and purchased the cold cot on the family’s behalf.

Recalling the heart-breaking moment she found out her baby had died, Alison said: “I had a perfectly normal pregnancy up to 40 weeks. We were very excited to start our little family. I wasn't due to see the midwife for another week, so I gave them a ring to see if they could fit me in just to re-assure me that everything was okay.

“We were sent to Stoke Mandeville Hospital for an ultrasound which showed our baby had no heartbeat. It's the most surreal, shattering, heart breaking pain that words can't even describe.

“We were told I would have to be induced into labour to give birth. Later that night on February 3 I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, Charlie John Paget.

“Charlie used a cold cot. As a family we were so grateful for this. All the staff at Stoke Mandeville were so good to us, and we wanted to be able to give something back and help other families.”

Heidi Beddall, head of midwifery at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, said the cold cot is “invaluable” for other families who have had to go through a similar situation.

She said: “For the family to do this fundraising so soon after their baby died is incredibly admirable and for them to share their story is so brave. We can’t thank them enough.”

Jenn Higgs, bereavement support midwife at the Trust, who supported Alison and Chris after Charlie died, added: “I would like to say a huge thank you to Chris, Alison and Ryley for raising the money to buy this cold cot in Charlie’s memory.

“It will make a huge difference to us. It is sad to think that we will have parents in the future who will need it, but when they do it will enable them to make choices about how long and where they spend time with their baby.”

To donate to the maternity unit at Stoke Mandeville in Charlie’s memory, visit www.justgiving.co.uk/alison-bowler.