Tracy and Phil Stephenson, both 28, had to say goodbye to baby Freddie when he was born dead at 27 weeks.
After trying to conceive for five years, the couple was finally successful on their second round of IVF.
Tracy told Mirror Online: "Everything seemed fine until the 20-week scan, when we were told that there were concerns with the baby's growth and were referred to a Fetal Medicine Unit for further investigation.
"Our baby was 'extremely tiny' - he was only measuring 223g - and there were problems with my blood flow preventing him from getting the nutrients that he needed.
"We were given the option to terminate the pregnancy at this point. We declined. We wanted to give him a chance to fight."
Tests indicated that the problem was Tracy's 'sticky' blood, which was restricting the flow of necessary oxygen and nutrients into the placenta and stunting the growth of her baby.
She was given medication to increase circulation and help the baby get to the 500g weight he needed to have a chance of survival.
She continued: "We prepared ourselves that he may now have developmental issues, possible disabilities - and for life in the neonatal unit if he was going to be so early.
"Every week he gave us more hope... until 27 weeks, when we were told that there was no heartbeat - the day that changed our lives forever."
Tracy bravely described her feelings upon receiving the news - and the difficult experience of having to deliver her son and say goodbye on October 4 last year.
She said: "When we were told that our baby had died in the womb, we were both devastated. I was petrified of having to give birth naturally under these circumstances.
"The midwives at Stafford Hospital were amazing. They reassured me, calmed me down and helped me to get through it.
"I knew that we also had to try to enjoy the experience in some way; treasure the only moments we would have with our baby, make some memories together - this is what we did.
"The birth was an amazing experience - very bittersweet. We finally got to see what our baby would look like. Phil cut the cord.
"We spent hours holding him, looking at him, kissing him and taking lots of photographs.
"The midwives did hand prints and footprints. We enjoyed our time with him.
"It was extremely difficult having to say goodbye and leave the hospital without him.
"We walked out of the hospital with a memory box instead of our much-wanted baby in a car seat."
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