A BRIDGWATER mum who suffered the heartache of having a stillborn baby has set up a support group for bereaved parents.

Mel Scott, 32, lost her son Finley John on August 2, 2009, following an emergency caesarean section. She was put under general anaesthetic and learned Finley had died when she came round.

She said: “I’d had a trouble-free pregnancy and for the whole day I was in a state of shock. Gradually I came to accept that I had a baby and that he had actually died.

“I then held Finley and I didn’t want to let him go. We had a chance to bathe, dress him, take videos and photos – all these things brought us comfort. We made our memories, which is important because you don’t get a second chance.”

Mel then created “Angel in Your Life Memory Days,” to help other bereaved parents create memories in a structured way.

She also fundraises to provide care packets for the Rowan Suite at Musgrove Park Hospital, in Taunton, where babies are cared for from 16 weeks of gestation. The packs include keepsake tins of the babies’ belongings, disposable cameras and teddy bears.

Mel has now created a website, Finley’s Footprints, to help support and educate families, professionals and charitable organisations on how to deal with loss.

Mel said: “There were things that helped us that could benefit other people and we feel certain choices should be available to other people.”

Mel now has a five-month-old baby girl, Toni-Joy.

n FOR more information on Mel’s business and charitable work, visit http://finleysfootprints.com/