Jessica Hayes has spoke about how important it is to ‘break the stigma’ around baby loss after tragically losing her son at 19 weeks in November.
Speaking in a new exclusive interview with MailOnline to mark Mental Health Awareness Week, the former Love Island star, 28, said that by bravely sharing her own experience, she has helped other people have a ‘voice’ and not ‘feel alone’.
Jessica said that she also hopes to give her followers ‘strength’ knowing that there is also life after loss, adding: ‘It makes you realise how strong you are.’
Being open and honest: Jessica Hayes has spoke about how important it is to ‘break the stigma’ around baby loss after tragically losing her son at 19 weeks in November
The reality star revealed in December that she had tragically lost her son, Teddy, at 19 weeks, emotionally sharing at the time that she was ‘drowning in grief’.
Jessica said that she knew it was important to be ‘open with everything’ and that she has since received hundreds of messages off women who have been through the same thing, thanking her for ‘helping’ them and giving them a ‘voice’.
Talking to MailOnline, the reality star said: ‘That’s why I am so grateful for the platform that I have because I have spoke about losing Teddy and other topics.
‘If I can just be honest and say that I’m feeling rubbish to help people and let them know they are not alone if they feel like that too.’
Important: Speaking to MailOnline, the former Love Island star, 28, said that by bravely sharing her own experience, she has helped other people have a ‘voice’ and not ‘feel alone’ (pictured paying tribute to her late son Teddy in April with her other child Presley)
Heartbreaking: The reality star revealed in December that she had tragically lost her son, Teddy, at 19 weeks, emotionally sharing at the time that she was ‘drowning in grief’
She added: ‘I think it’s so important to be open with everything, I know that’s not for everyone but I have found the more I put out, the more people I am helping.
‘I’ve had hundreds of messages from other woman who have been through the same thing, saying thank you so much for helping me.
‘I think it’s really important to be open if you can and if that’s what you want to do as it helps so many people.’
Jessica added that she tries to help as many people as she can but sometimes she finds other people’s stories about baby loss ‘hard’.
She continued: ‘I do try and read the messages people send me, 99 per cent of the time it is just love and it does make you feel really supported, it is lovely.
‘Strength’: Jessica said that she also hopes to give her followers ‘strength’ knowing that there is also life after loss, adding: ‘It makes you realise how strong you are.’
‘I try to help as many people as I can, obviously, it can be hard. It is hard to read other people’s stories about baby loss. It can be hard to want to help everyone.’
Jessica said that a lot of people have thanked her for being honest and even said: ‘It makes me feel like it’s okay to talk about it.’
She continued: ‘I think there’s such a, well with the baby loss part, there’s such a stigma around not just speaking about it. It’s almost like, they say I have given them a voice in some ways for them to speak up and show how they are feeling.’
Jessica added that it is also important for her to show her followers ‘life after loss’ and give women who have gone through the same thing ‘strength’.
She continued: ‘Showing how no matter something terrible is, you are going to be okay, whatever happens, you will be okay. You’ve just got to.
Heartbreaking: Jessica said seeing other celebrities, such as Chrissy Teigen, who tragically shared in September that she had lost her baby son, Jack, halfway through her pregnancy, helped her feel like she wasn’t ‘alone’ (Chrissy and her husband John Legend pictured)
‘It makes you realise how strong you are, it really does, I think if people can see that as well, it will give them the strength.’
Jessica said that she often looks at those that she admires to see what they have been through and it gives her ‘hope’.
She continued: ‘I look at those people I admire and I look at what they have been through, if I’m going through something, I go: “You know what, they’ve been through so much and now they are thriving and doing amazing.” It gives me hope in a way.’
Jessica said seeing other celebrities, such as Chrissy Teigen, who tragically shared in September that she had lost her baby son, Jack, halfway through her pregnancy, helped her feel like she wasn’t ‘alone’.
She said: ‘I remember with Chrissy Teigen, I think at the time, I remember flicking past thinking it was awful. Then when I lost Teddy, I jumped straight to her Instagram and I was reading through everything, looking through her photos.
‘It made me feel not alone. All of a sudden I was in that world and I understood it, so for me, to go and read what she went through, it was so very similar, it was really nice. It felt like I wasn’t alone.’
Jessica is an ambassador for the charity, Saying Goodbye, which helps people who have lost a baby throughout any stage of pregnancy, birth or infancy.
The reality star said that she was ‘so grateful’ to be involved and that it has been ‘lovely’ to raise awareness around baby loss and spread kindness.
Talking about how the charity supports people, Jessica said: ‘They do little remembrance evenings, so anyone can go and remember their child or baby.
‘It’s like a little service thing, it’s nice, people from anywhere can go and they hold them in different parts of the country. So people can go there and remember their baby, which I think is really nice as well.’
Helping others: Jessica said that she knew it was important to be ‘open with everything’ and that she has since received hundreds of messages off women who have been through the same thing, thanking her for ‘helping’ them and giving them a ‘voice’
Jessica said that she was grateful for baby loss charities, such as Saying Goodbye and Petals, which offers counselling, after losing Teddy.
The reality star said: ‘When I lost Teddy, it was the worst thing to happen in the world and I took three months off work, I was in a complete daze. I had some therapy and counselling off a charity called Petals, they have been really great.’
Although Jessica added: ‘But aside from that, you are kind of just left to deal with stuff. I don’t think there is enough support, I’m sure the resources are there but people need to know that it’s okay to get in touch.
‘Or if they feel like they need to take medication, then it’s okay, they haven’t failed. I think it’s so easy to feel like that, that you’ve failed.
‘No, it’s just something that is going to take the edge off and help you with life until you can. It’s just so important that people shouldn’t feel like they can’t because they can.’
Family: Jessica said that a lot of people have thanked her for being honest and even said: ‘It makes me feel like it’s okay to talk about it.’ (pictured with her fiancé Dan and her first born Presley in December)
Jessica said that she has previously taken medication for anxiety and depression on and off over the years, adding that she is ‘not ashamed’.
The reality star said: ‘I will be completely honest, I have always suffered with my mental health on and off over the years, since I was young.
‘Since I was very young, I’m trying to speak a bit more about it now, it is something I have struggled with for a while, especially anxiety as well, I really struggled with that.
‘I’m not ashamed to say in the past I have taken medication for anxiety and depression, on and off over the years.’
Jessica added: ‘I do feel like I have kind of got to a place where I feel like I don’t need that, I am just sort of in a better mind set to deal with it internally now rather than to take something to get rid of my anxiety.
Emotional: In April, Jessica paid a touching tribute to her stillborn son Teddy by writing his name on the sand at the beach on what would have been his due date
‘It’s [mental health] been in my family, I’ve watched certain family members suffer, I lost my best friend to suicide when we were 19.
‘It’s always been quite a big important thing to me, important to me to raise awareness for it 100%. Life isn’t easy, but you know, we have just got to be kind and there for each other.’
Talking about how important Mental Health Awareness Week is to her, Jessica added: ‘It’s something that has been really close to my heart for quite a long time really. It is something that is really important to me.’
In April, Jessica paid a touching tribute to her stillborn son Teddy by writing his name on the sand at the beach on what would have been his due date.
The former Love Island contestant took to Instagram to share the snap of her with her first born Presley, 23 months.
Family: Jess pictured with her fiancé Dan and son Presley (pictured in August)
She suffered a heartbreaking miscarriage at 19 weeks pregnant last year, and revealed the news in December, explaining she and fiancé Dan Lawry had named their son Teddy.
Jessica emotionally penned: ‘Happy due date teddy darling. What I would do to be having those newborn cuddles. Always loved, never forgotten’.
The TV star first shared the tragic news alongside a picture of her baby’s hand and footprints, a knitted blanket and a teddy bear in December.
She said: ‘To Our little Teddy. I’m so sorry I couldn’t keep you safe for a little while longer. I’m sorry I couldn’t take you home.
Grief: The TV star first shared the tragic news alongside a picture of her baby’s hand and footprints, a knitted blanket and a teddy bear in December
‘I’m sorry we had to say goodbye this way it wasn’t supposed to be like this. The pain is unbearable and I feel like I’m drowning in grief.
‘My mind spinning thinking of all the what ifs and questions of who you would of grown up to be. When will I wake up From this awful nightmare?
‘I look at the clock and count the hours of how old you are time is moving but your not here your not getting older it’s not fair. No first times, smiles or laughter.’
Tragically, Jessica had only revealed that she and Dan – who announced their engagement in August 2018 – were expecting their second child the week before.
The Sands National Helpline provides a safe, confidential place for anyone who has been affected by the death of a baby. You can call the Sands Helpline on 0808 164 3332 [email protected].
If you have been affected by this article, you can also contact the charity Saying Goodbye on 0845 293 8027 or email [email protected].