A mum was told to collect her son in a box after a heartbreaking stillbirth.
Gina Jacobs had her world turned upside down after having a stillborn son back in February, 1969.
She wasn’t even allowed to see her son before he was taken away, and when she asked to, she was told mum’s “got over it quicker” if they didn’t see their stillborn kids.
The now 77-year-old from Greasby, Wirral, and her husband were told to collect the box that held their stillborn son and drop it off at a lodge near a local cemetery, The Liverpool Echo reported .
As the heartbroken couple didn’t have a car, or much money, they were nearly forced to carry their dead son on the bus to get there.
She revealed one of her friends, who went through the same thing, had to do exactly that.
Now, over 50 years later, she has finally found the resting place of her stillborn son.
Recalling the devastating day, she said: “I asked if I could see him, and they told me they found mothers ‘got over it quicker’ if they didn’t see their babies.
“It was just appalling. We didn’t even get asked if we wanted to give him a name.”
Gina added: “My husband was told to go and collect the baby and take it to Landican and leave it at the lodge there.
“We didn’t have a car and we didn’t have much money, so if it wasn’t for his brother coming to our rescue we would have - as one of my friends did – had to travel on the bus with the baby in a box.”
Gina didn't speak about what had happened for years for fear she would upset her family.
But with the encouragement of her neighbour, Ashley Osbourne, she decided to finally find her son’s grave.
Along with Ashley she visited Landican, where the cemetery was and with the help of a member of the maintenance team there, they were able to find the plot.
Gina said: “It was much quicker than I thought. Right away they were able to tell me where he was buried with 62 other babies.
“We found the plot, and Ashley produced a teddy and a vase to put daisies in. It was just lovely.
“It’s quite overgrown and there’s about five or six of these graves with hundreds of babies in, so the plan is to clean up the grass and maybe even get something that is dedicated to all the babies.”
Gina took to social media to share her story and has been inundated with hundreds of messages of support, as well as letters from a number of women who went through similar experiences in the 1960s.
She said: “I never expected the response I got. I feel for the first time that my baby’s little life is being celebrated.
“It’s the most wonderful feeling because I feel now that I haven’t let him down. I’m so glad I did it."
Gina is now encouraging other parents who want to find their stillborn babies to follow in her footsteps, and Wirral Council have advised the best way for people to get in touch.
A spokesperson the council said: “The loss of a baby is a terrible tragedy for parents and the trauma of this is better understood now both here in Wirral and elsewhere across the country.
“Sadly there are many babies in Wirral’s cemeteries and if you wish to find the resting place of a baby please contact Landican Cemetery Office. The easiest way to do this is by contacting us directly by email or phone.”
Parents are also asked to provide as much information as possible, so that staff can assist in looking for a baby.
That includes: the full name of parents, date of still-birth address at time of birth, religion of parents and the hospital where the birth occurred. You can contact Landican Cemetery by emailing landceme@wirral.gov.uk or calling 0151 666 3001.
