FOR any couple longing to be parents, the grief of losing a child can be near impossible to overcome.

But having to go through the birth of your first child, knowing he has already died, will be a tragedy that stays with Emma Bond for the rest of her life.

The 32-year old was 35 weeks pregnant with her son by partner Jonathan Pollard, 30, when the couple were told that their son had passed away.

Miss Bond, from Banbury, had suffered a placental abruption caused by severe pre-eclampsia – a condition she had been unaware she even had until she was taken to the town’s Horton Hospital on September 22, 2011.

Pre-eclampsia affects some pregnant women during the second half of pregnancy or immediately after delivery of their baby.

Symptoms include high blood pressure and fluid retention, and if it’s not treated, it can be fatal for mother and baby.

Miss Bond, said: “We were so excited and looking forward to having a baby.

“We’d been so careful throughout the pregnancy but by the time we’d got to 35 weeks we’d relaxed. We thought we were past the dangerous part.

“I’d had swollen hands and feet throughout the pregnancy. But then my face started to swell, which is much more unusual.

“Then, on September 22, at 35 weeks pregnant my partner Jonathan and I received the most devastating news that our unborn baby had passed away.”

As if the news was not enough, Miss Bond was then left fighting for her own life as the pre-eclampsia threatened her with potentially fatal blood poisoning.

After being transferred from Banbury to the Silver Star Unit for high-risk pregnancies at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, Miss Bond had to go through a full labour to save her own life. Mr Pollard added: “The expert care that the doctors and midwives gave us under the direction of the Silver Star Team couldn’t have been better.

“I was able to be at Emma’s bedside the whole time whilst we were at the JR.

“We hope to be trying again for another baby in the near future and knowing that we will be cared for by the Silver Star team gives us reassurance of a much better outcome in the future.”

The Silver Star unit cares for seriously ill expectant mothers and their unborn babies. The unit needs to raise £120,000 to fund cutting-edge research into understanding pre- eclampsia.

Miss Bond and Mr Pollard are backing the drive – starting by supporting Mr Pollard’s 35-year-old brother Simon, who will be carrying out a fundraising 950-mile charity bike ride from John O’Groats to Land’s End.

Miss Bond said: “During the most tragic time of our lives, the care and support myself and Jonathan received from the Silver Star Unit was second to none. Words cannot describe how grateful I feel.”

Mr Pollard added: “I wouldn’t want what Emma and I have been through to be endured by any other couple. By raising money for the appeal researchers can hopefully find out more about pre-eclampsia so the condition can be cured or managed.”

Simon Pollard will undertake his cycle challenge on April 30. He hopes to raise more than £3,000 for the cause.