Amanda Holden marks heartbreaking anniversary with touching photo

The Britain's Got Talent reflected on an emotional time…

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February 2, 2024Feb 2, 2024, 8:12 AM GMT

January has been a celebratory month for Amanda Holden with both her daughters Lexi, 18, and Holly, 12, celebrating their birthdays. But on Thursday, the Britain's Got Talent judge honoured her son Theo on what would have been his 13th birthday.

Taking to her Instagram Stories, the doting mother shared a photo of a candle, in memory of Theo, the baby boy she and her husband, Chris Hughes, lost in 2011 when Amanda was seven months pregnant.

The TV star revealed that Theo would have turned thirteen this year. "You would have become a teenager today… #Theo" penned Amanda alongside a red love heart emoji.

Theo was stillborn, which according to the NHS is when a baby is born dead after 24 completed weeks of pregnancy.

Amanda and her girls could be triplets — Amanda and Chris share two daughters who both have birthdays in January

Amanda bravely opened up about her experience in 2022 on her Heart breakfast show when she raised money for baby loss charity Aching Arms as part of fundraising for her 3 Peaks Challenge.

She said: "We lost our baby Theo at 28 weeks, and they very sensitively moved me into another room so I could deliver him without having to hear the lovely babies screaming on a normal ward.

"Often that's not thought about, it's little things like that. I remember the lady afterwards as well when we went for a chat also said 'I know you're going home empty-handed' is what she said to me.

"So I felt like some sort of game show contestant, so it's all of that language that I know this charity will be helping people to avoid and educate them on how best to deal with something so awful. It's just awful."

Baby movements during pregnancy*

When women start to feel baby movements

Most women usually begin to feel their baby move between 16 and 24 weeks of pregnancy. Movements can be described as anything from a kick, flutter, swish or roll. The type of movement may change as pregnancy progresses.

How often should the baby move?

There is no set number of normal movements. From 16-24 weeks on, women should feel the baby move more and more up until 32 weeks. The frequency should then stay roughly the same until birth. Women should pay attention to how their baby moves as if the frequency changes, it can be a sign the baby is struggling or unwell. Around half of women who have suffered stillbirth noticed their baby's movements had slowed or stopped.

MYTH: BABIES DO NOT MOVE LESS TOWARDS THE END OF PREGANCY OR IN LABOUR

What is the science behind the importance of baby movements?

Oxygen is delivered to the baby from the placenta via the umbilical chord. If this oxygen supply becomes compromised, a baby can start to move less frequently to conserve energy.

WARNING: DO NOT USE HANDHELD MONITORS, DOPPLERS OR PHONE APPS TO CHECK A BABY'S HEARTBEAT. EVEN IF A HEARTBEAT IS DETECTED, IT DOES NOT MEAN THE BABY IS UNWELL.

What if a baby's movements slow down or stop?

Concerned women should speak to their midwife or maternity unit immediately. There is always a midwife available, even at night.

What if concerns over movements persist after an initial check?

Concerned women should again speak to their midwife or maternity unit straightaway, even if everything was normal last time, and no matter how many times they have got in touch previously.

* Guidelines produced by baby loss charity Tommy's in conjunction with the NHS.

One year after their devastating loss, Amanda and Chris welcomed their second daughter Hollie, whom Amanda referred to as her "rainbow baby," in her birthday post on social media last week.

A "rainbow baby" is a term often used to describe the first baby after a miscarriage or loss. Amanda shared a sweet video of a montage of photos of her daughter from when she was a baby with the song Firework by Katy Perry playing in the background.

Support

In the caption, she wrote: "My youngest is 12 today!! #January babies. #HRH Hollie Rose Hughes," wrote Amanda. "You burst into our lives this day and brought us sooo much happiness and joy [rainbow emoji] our rainbow baby.

"Our light. You're the most funny, clever & beautiful girl. Cartwheeling in the garden and ruining all socks!.(obsessed with skincare at 11!!! And desperate for TikTok! (you're still not having it.) But @drunkelephant and @soldejaneiro coming your way this morning. We love you so much. Mama & Dada xx."

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