Our world ended when we found out our little 'Ickle Pickle' had fallen asleep and was no longer with us. Here is our story: I was going to my routine prenatal appointment, I was 31+1 weeks pregnant, luckily Sam was with me. On arrival at my appointment I found out I had lost 4lbs since my previous appointment 2 weeks before. Alarm bells started ringing in my head straight away, my doctor was then unable to find Amelie's heartbeat. We then had an ultrasound where sadly it was confirmed that Amelie was sleeping and it was likely that she had passed away about a week before. Every evening Sam and I 'counted the kicks' but apparently it is likely that this was the fluid moving around and also the start of contractions- which weren't painful and I would only feel about 2 'contractions' each day.   We were then given the choice as to whether we wanted to wait for my body to start labour naturally- this could take quite some time, or be induced and have labour started immediately. I opted for the latter. As soon as we heard that Amelie was no longer with us we just wanted her to be born and so we could begin the grieving process. In some ways I consider myself lucky as my Doctor and the hospital was absolutely wonderful and they turned what could have been a truly horrific experience into something which was actually very dignified and tranquil. I'm also incredibly pleased that I was able to give birth to my baby girl although it was of course very traumatic and upsetting at the same time. I was in labour for 10 hours but only had to push for 20 mins. I was totally drugged up so I didn't really feel any pain until the last 45 mins or so-of which I'm very grateful. Amelie was born at 2:15am on Thursday 3rd May 2012.   We didn't find out the gender of Amelie before she was born we were so looking forward to meeting our little precious surprise. Although we are probably biased, when we first saw her we were amazed by how beautiful she is. She really is the most beautiful little girl in the world and she is just so feminine- she had lovely bright red lips, lovely long dark eye lashes and a big mop of dark chestnut brown hair. Sam and I say that she is too beautiful for this world so has gone on to a better place.   The hospital really were wonderful and arranged for a professional photographer (part of a stillbith/neonatal death charity) to come in and take photos of our little girl on her own and also with Sam and I. When we first heard about this we thought it sounded incredibly morbid- but the nurses recommended that we had them done even if we never looked at the photos in the future as they would be a very precious memory for us. They arrived in the post the Saturday after the Birth and they are absolutely beautiful and we are so so grateful to the nurses who persuaded us to have them done.    I was discharged from the hospital on Thursday afternoon and it was very upsetting/strange going home without a baby in my belly or in my arms. I feel so empty and numb now and I am desperate for another baby. Amelie is our angel baby who will never be replaced but I feel so ready to be a parent and I feel it is so cruel that this has been taken away from us so late in my pregnancy.