Heartbroken mother reveals: “I had to abort my baby to save my life”

[All photographs used in this article are stock library images]

Doctors told Lucy Buckby, 28, that she was at high risk of dying during labour due to a serious heart condition which only became apparent during her third pregnancy.

Lucy was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension after collapsing in the street, with doctors warning her that she had a 50% chance of dying during labour.

A mother already to two children, Lucy made the heartbreaking decision to abort her son at 17 weeks - but she says she still lives with deep regret after agreeing to the advice to terminate the pregnancy.

She said to The Mail Online: "I sometimes wonder whether I would have been able to survive the labour, and whether I did the right thing.

"I asked to see an ultrasound of Jayden alive before I gave birth to him when he was 17 weeks old. My son was very small, but in my heart he was a human being."

She added, movingly: "We christened Jayden and we held a funeral. The decision I made is something I'll have to live with for the rest of my life, but I believe his purpose was to let me know about the heart condition.

"If it wasn't for Jayden, my two older sons could have been left without their mum."

Pulmonary hypertension is a serious medical condition, which can see high blood pressure make the heart less efficient at pumping blood around the body and getting oxygen to the muscles.

It can lead to the sudden death of a woman during childbirth when the heart is put under strain - and around two-thirds of patients live for more than five years after diagnosis.

Today Lucy takes medication to manage her heart condition and must attend hospital for regular check-ups.

She said: "Jayden is now my guardian angel. He let us know about the heart condition and without him, I might not be here today. He was tiny, but he was looking after me.

"I believe it was his purpose in life to make sure that his brothers could spend more time with me.

"I wonder what the future would have been like with Jayden with us. I know that one day, I will see him again."

Lucy is holding a charity event with live music at Dunnington Sports Club on July 11, 2014 to raise money for Pulmonary Hypertension Association UK.

For more information about the charity visit their official website now.

[All photographs used in this article are stock library images]