Coronation Street star Kym Marsh drew praise for her portrayal of a mother going through a late miscarriage - especially since she suffered the tragedy in real life...
Kym Marsh bravely took on a Coronation Street storyline earlier this year that was a little close to home for her and her family.
Her character, Michelle Connor, tragically suffered a late miscarriage with husband Steve, played by Simon Gregson.
Devastatingly, both Kym and Simon have lost babies at late stages in their own lives.
Kym, who son Archie passed away at 21 weeks - just three weeks before the age of viability, appeared on [This Morning] earlier today to help advise women who have gone through a similar thing.
Along with the programme's Agony Aunt Deirdre Sanders and presenters [Holly Willoughby] and [Phillip Schofield], Kym appeared on the show to take calls from women who had endured the tragedy.
One call in particular shook the group - with Kym in particular trying to hold back the tears.
Paula phoned into the show as her baby was stillborn at 36 weeks last June, and she was hoping for advice on how to move on.
She explained that she'd gone into hospital as she couldn't feel the baby moving, and was told there was no heartbeat.
Holly added that she'd been ok to begin with and scattered the baby's ashes at Kilimanjaro, but that it had become a lot more difficult lately.
Paula said: "My life completely changed in that moment, and I don't know where to restart building my life. Where do you start?"
READ MORE | Stillbirth: How to be there for someone who has lost a baby
Kym was the first to speak, commending Paula for phoning in: "I think you've made an amazing start because you're reaching out, that's one of the big things that helped me."
Deirdre then encouraged Paula to ring Sands, a charity that helps bereaved parents of stillborn babies.
To add salt to Paula's wounds, she hasn't been able to return to work either as she works with children: "I struggle to see pregnant people and hearing a baby cry is just torture. I didn't hear that, I could hear people in the other room giving birth and I heard their babies cry."
Kym tearily said: "I totally get that, that's exactly how it was for me too."
The mum-of-three tried to soothe Paula by reminding her it really wasn't that long ago, which prompted Holly to ask when things became a little easier for Kym.
She responded: "It's really like rebuilding your life with a jigsaw piece missing. I think for me it was talking to other people that really helped. Going back to work was something that really helped because it was a sense of normality.
"You feel like life is carrying on around you, and you're stuck in this hole and you have no way of getting out."
Phil brought up that it's always good to still talk about the child and celebrate their lives, with Deirdre suggesting that Paula go through any memories she does have with her baby like photographs or other mementos.
READ MORE | Stillbirth: Causes, symptoms, risks and birth process explained
Paula then heartbreakingly admitted she couldn't talk to her family about it: "A bit to begin with but I just don't like talking about it.
"The thing I struggle with is that, yes, she was born, but she never existed - well, she did, but..."
As Paula trailed off, the presenters reassured that her baby did exist, something that she was finding it hard to come to terms with.
But she heartbreakingly confessed: "But I never knew her, I don't even know what colour her eyes were," a comment which seemed to deeply affect Kym.
Deirdre added that if Paula were to discuss her baby daughter with family, that would "help her to exist more."
She ended the call by recommending Sands once again.
Erica Stewart, Bereavement Support and Awareness Specialist at Sands, said: "The death of a baby before, during or after birth is a major bereavement.
"Although every parent is an individual and circumstances may differ, the grief that follows the death of a baby is likely to last for many months and even years. It never goes away completely, but eventually most parents reach what some call 'a new normal.'
"It's common to feel shocked and numb, especially at first. People may experience a whole range of other feelings, including profound sadness, often accompanied by crying and sobbing, restlessness, anger, guilt, depression and also loss of confidence and self-esteem. These feelings don't come in any particular order; they are unpredictable and come in waves.
"There is no right or wrong way to grieve: each of us tends to grieve in the way we were brought up to grieve, and each of us deals with grief in our own way. Sands' experienced Helpline team is here to listen and the Freephone number to call is 0808 164 3332. If you would prefer to email instead, please send a message to: helpline@sands.org.uk."
If you have been affected by this story, contact Sands.
READ MORE...
EXCLUSIVE: Kym Marsh opens up about filming stillbirth storyline on NTA red carpet
Stillbirth: One mum shares her heartbreaking story of losing her first child