Portsmouth mum who gave birth to stillborn daughter at 15 holds fundraiser for Queen Alexandra Hospital

TEN years ago an up and coming gymnast had her life turned upside down when she fell pregnant at 15 years old while on the pill but was left devastated when her baby girl died in the womb at seven months.
By Millie Salkeld
Published 26th May 2020, 07:00 BST
Updated 26th May 2020, 12:56 BST
Kat Eastman who is doing a fundraiser for QA's bereavement suite as it marks 10 years since she gave birth to her stillborn daughter Ruby. Kat Eastman who is doing a fundraiser for QA's bereavement suite as it marks 10 years since she gave birth to her stillborn daughter Ruby.
Kat Eastman who is doing a fundraiser for QA's bereavement suite as it marks 10 years since she gave birth to her stillborn daughter Ruby.

Kat Eastman from Portsmouth was shocked to fall pregnant while on the pill but her and boyfriend at the time Matt Fryer decided they would start a family.

But after an initial scan showed no issues, the 20-week scan showed a wave of problems and Kat gave birth to stillborn daughter Ruby-Mae at Queen Alexandra Hospital on May 31, 2010.

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To mark the 10th anniversary of her daughter’s birth, Kat, who is now mum to Declan, 8, and Rebecca, 3, has decided to raise money for the bereavement suite at the Cosham hospital, funeral directors Searson, which arranged Ruby’s funeral free of charge, and SANDS (Stillbirth and neonatal deaths) charity.

Kat Eastman who is doing a fundraiser for QA's bereavement suite as it marks 10 years since she gave birth to her stillborn daughter Ruby. Pictured is: Kat Eastman with Rebecca and Declan at Ruby's grave.Kat Eastman who is doing a fundraiser for QA's bereavement suite as it marks 10 years since she gave birth to her stillborn daughter Ruby. Pictured is: Kat Eastman with Rebecca and Declan at Ruby's grave.
Kat Eastman who is doing a fundraiser for QA's bereavement suite as it marks 10 years since she gave birth to her stillborn daughter Ruby. Pictured is: Kat Eastman with Rebecca and Declan at Ruby's grave.

The 25-year-old said: ‘It was really hard at the time and I think it was less to do with my age and more because we didn't know anyone who had gone through it and, although my family were so supportive, I felt so lonely with no one to turn to.

‘The actual pregnancy was an accident as I had some antibiotics from the doctor and they didn’t know I was on the pill and I didn’t know they would react. I was doing gymnastics at the time but gave it all up to have Ruby-Mae.

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‘After her birth I went back to school, got my GCSEs and now run my own business. It took me a really long time to deal with everything but now I have two healthy children and I just want to help others.’

Kat Eastman who is doing a fundraiser for QA's bereavement suite as it marks 10 years since she gave birth to her stillborn daughter Ruby. Pictured is: (From left) Husband Sam Eastman, Kat Eastman and my daughter Rebecca (Sam's daughter) my son Declan and his father Matt Fryer who was also the father to the little girl we lost Ruby. Kat Eastman who is doing a fundraiser for QA's bereavement suite as it marks 10 years since she gave birth to her stillborn daughter Ruby. Pictured is: (From left) Husband Sam Eastman, Kat Eastman and my daughter Rebecca (Sam's daughter) my son Declan and his father Matt Fryer who was also the father to the little girl we lost Ruby.
Kat Eastman who is doing a fundraiser for QA's bereavement suite as it marks 10 years since she gave birth to her stillborn daughter Ruby. Pictured is: (From left) Husband Sam Eastman, Kat Eastman and my daughter Rebecca (Sam's daughter) my son Declan and his father Matt Fryer who was also the father to the little girl we lost Ruby.
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Kat, who is now married to Sam, has raised more than £1,000 with a cake sale for family and friends as well as donations.

She said: ‘I really hope we can keep going with the fundraising as I started the target at £500 and then we went passed that within a couple of days and so I upped it to £1,000. My family and friends say they love my cakes so I made up boxes for everyone and raised more than £300 that way as well.

‘The donations mean so much to our family so we can help others going through what Matt and I went through. We are still really good friends and had our son Declan a couple of years after Ruby-Mae.’

Kat added: ‘I think being 10 years on now I feel like I can talk really openly about how I felt and I hope to become a telephone befriender to other people and listen to everything they are going through because I found that helpful when I was feeling down.’

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To donate visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/katherine-eastman

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