My daughter Charlie was born sleeping on 4 September 2025.
At a routine ultrasound when I was 34 weeks pregnant, we learned that Charlie had abnormalities in her brain. Two weeks later, she died from the effects of congenital cytomegalovirus, or CMV.
Grieving the loss of our baby to congenital CMV
There are no words for the heartbreak of losing a baby. Charlie’s death changed our lives forever. In the aftermath, I saw a psychologist, but I also found that working with a grief counsellor offered a different and deeply valuable kind of support. It felt less like someone was trying to fix my trauma and more like talking with a trusted friend. Red Nose provided someone who could sit alongside my grief without judgement.
Speaking with someone who had also experienced loss made an enormous difference. I could talk from the comfort of my own home, and there was reassurance in hearing that what I was going through was understandable: that every feeling and emotion was valid, and that there was no single right way to grieve.
Finding support after pregnancy and baby loss
Red Nose became an important source of support as I tried to navigate a grief, I had never imagined experiencing. Losing a baby can feel profoundly isolating. Red Nose gave me a space where Charlie was remembered, my grief was acknowledged and I was recognised as her mum, even though she was no longer physically with us. That support has been invaluable.
Living with grief, love and hope after CMV
My family has carried me through, too. My husband, Jack, and our eldest daughter, Isabella, who has just turned three, remain at the heart of everything. In August 2026, we welcomed our rainbow baby, Georgia. Charlie will always be our second child. I am, and always will be, the mum of three beautiful girls.
Grief and joy can exist together; so, can sorrow, love and hope.
Pregnancy after loss to congenital CMV
Pregnancy after loss brought its own challenges. I carried intense anxiety through the pregnancy and birth, while also making room for hope. I learned that grief can look different for everyone. There is no timetable and no set path through it. What mattered most was having people who were willing to listen, remember Charlie and stay beside me.
Raising awareness of CMV in pregnancy
Sharing Charlie’s story is one of the ways I continue to be her mum. Although her life was heartbreakingly short, her impact does not have to be. I have spoken about CMV awareness with the Cerebral Palsy Alliance, including through Channel 9 News, A Current Affair and several podcasts. Every time I speak, I hope to honour Charlie, help another family feel less alone and raise awareness of a virus too few people know about.
No parent should have to say goodbye to their baby. Telling our story is incredibly difficult, but I know it can also be powerful. If speaking about Charlie helps another family feel seen, increases understanding of congenital CMV or helps someone reduce their risk, then her story continues to make a difference.
Visit our partners Health Direct for more information of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) – symptoms and treatment | healthdirect
