A HEREFORDSHIRE mother has spoken about the heartache of suffering five miscarriages which has left a hole in her heart.

Baby Loss Awareness Week started yesterday (Wednesday) and two Hereford landmarks were lit in pink and blue to help raise awareness about pregnancy and baby loss locally.

The NHS estimates one in eight pregnancies will end in miscarriage, and one Herefordshire mother said it hurts just seeing children a similar age to what her's would be.

"It's not just me affected by this, this affects our families too," said the mother, who did not want to be named.

"I've suffered a number of miscarriages and each one has been different, but they all have left a little hole in my heart.

"The first one I lost I had two scans and the heartbeat was slowing on the first one so I was sent for a second one and was told I'd had a spontaneous abortion.

"I then had a child which wasn't a straight forward pregnancy. Now he's 15."

For this mother, it's not just the pain of losing a child, but its the annual occurrence of reaching what should have been the due date, or the date that she lost a child.

"I then suffered a further four miscarriages. The last one I had was a partial molar pregnancy. I had to have a operation to remove it, it had to be sent of for testing," she added.

"I have seen what you pass, the physical and emotional pain every time you reach what should be a due date or the date it was lost.

"Your heart aches seeing children that are a similar age, it's agonising, but it's people not knowing what to say or not saying anything, that hurts.

"That's why I think it needs to be talked about when you do a test and get a positive result your life changes, you're pregnant, having a baby and it's part of you and is always with you."

Now in its 17th year, the week, that runs until Tuesday, is being led by Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity.

In Hereford, people are being invited to light a candle in remembrance of the life of their baby at Hereford Cathedral on Tuesday, October 15, at 7pm.

They are also invited to join staff and supporters of the Born Sleeping Appeal as they walk from Hereford County Hospital to the cathedral at 6pm, arriving in time for the candle lighting service at 7pm.