ONE SON WAS DYING AS I GAVE BIRTH TO ANOTHER

Pregnant Fauzia Ashraf, 33, was facing a mother's worst nightmare

Smiling as my son rushed towards me excitedly calling 'Mummy!' I bent down and scooped him up in my arms. It was nursery pick-up time and, just as he did every day, Saqib, four, wrapped his little arms around my neck and whispered that he loved me.

Then I noticed his teacher smiling at the door. 'He's been telling us all about your exciting news,' she said. 'He can't stop talking about being a big brother.

I burst out laughing as I realised that my secret was now clearly out, thanks to my tiny chatterbox. It was January 2021 and I was four weeks pregnant.

The evening before, my husband Mohsin and I had broken the news to Saqib and his older brother Aqib, six. They were thrille As months passed and my bump grew, Saqib and Aqib couldn't wait to meet the baby. Saqib had always been gentle and loving and now was no exception as he cuddled and kissed my tummy. Until now, he'd been the baby of the family but I knew he'd make a wonderful big brother.

GROWING CONCERN

On the last day of term, Saqib's teachers waved him goodbye and told him they'd see him when he started in reception class in September. I'd already bought his new school uniform and he couldn't wait to wear it. Working as a secondary school teacher meant I'd

also finished work for the summer. We're going to have lots of fun together before the baby arrives,' I grinned. But although Saqib was full of energy jumping on the trampoline with Aqib, racing around the garden in superhero costumes and playing with his Buzz Lightyear toy he started complaining of headaches. He'd clutch his head and say, 'It hurts, Mummy.' The pain would last around five minutes, then he went back to his games. But after a week, I noticed that he would occasionally dribble, as though he was teething. He also stopped running up and down the stairs and would shuffle down on his bum instead.