A couple from Carshalton who suffered the heartbreak of losing their newborn baby daughter have started a fundraising campaign to help other grieving parents.

Hollie Perry and her partner Scott are trying to raise £20,000 for a new bereavement room in St Helier Hospital.

They experienced the “absolute joy and happiness” of discovering the pregnancy before routine scans revealed ominous results.

After weeks of tests, Holly and Scott were informed their unborn daughter called Hope had triploid syndrome.

Doctors found Hope’s heart, spine and stomach were not developing properly, meaning she wouldn’t survive outside the womb.

A devastated Hollie and Scott made the agonising decision to end the pregnancy.

Hollie said: “I think it's the hardest decision any parent-to-be could possibly have to make. But we knew that we didn’t want her to suffer, and we were determined to do the best thing for Hope.”

Baby Hope was delivered on August 6 last year after 23 weeks.

Hollie said: “After Hope arrived, we were given a cold cot [a cot that cools the baby and prolongs the amount of time parents can spend with their child] and were able to spend a night and day with her in the single bereavement room.

“We knew that we had to cram in a lifetime of memories into just a few precious hours, and we will both remember the time we spent in that room for the rest of our lives.”

Hollie and Scott are now striving to raise money to overhaul the bereavement room in the maternity department of St Helier.

“The staff at St Helier were incredible, and I couldn’t have asked for anything more from them," Hollie said.

“But there are some touches that could be made to the bereavement room that would make that precious time with your baby just a little more comfortable. That’s why we want to raise £20,000 to refurbish it completely.

“We will always treasure being able to spend time with Hope, dress her, take ink prints of her hands and feet, and we would like to be able to help other parents who are going through the same thing or something similar.”

You can donate money to Hollie’s JustGiving page here https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/hollie-perry

Marion Louki, the head of midwifery and gynaecology at Epsom and St Helier Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We are so grateful to Hollie and Scott for sharing their story, and for launching a fundraising campaign for us during this incredibly difficult time.

“For most of the people we care for and support in the maternity departments, we are there for them during their happiest days. But sadly, that isn’t always the case, and it is absolutely vital that we can help parents who have had bad news, or those coming to terms with the death of their child.

“Nothing can take away the pain of losing a baby, but it is absolutely vital that we do everything we can to support families and individuals during these times.

“A new bereavement room would mean improved privacy, a quieter environment and more comfortable facilities. Every penny will count, so if you are able, please think about donating to this wonderful cause.”