A MUM says she has only begun grieving following the death of her newly born baby.

Last summer Nikki Ravenscroft gave birth to her fifth child, George, but in less than 24 hours he was dead.

George was born on June 9 following a straightforward delivery, but after an hour in his cot, he was found cold, pale and without any signs of life.

Attempts were made to resuscitate him and George was taken to the hospital’s special care baby unit but his condition deteriorated.

Doctors decided to transfer him to Medway Maritime Hospital but they changed their minds after his oxygen levels and blood pressure dropped and they decided he would not survive the journey.

Instead George’s mother was advised to take him off his life support machine.

George died aged 17 hours.

Mrs Ravenscroft, who has four other children aged between three and eight, said: “It was one of those moments where you don’t believe what’s happening to you.

“The doctor came in and said we just don’t know what is wrong with him.

“I just broke down in tears.”

A post-mortem examination found George had suffered extensive haemorrhage in his lungs, although the cause is unclear.

Mrs Ravenscroft, of Trevelyan Close, Temple Hill, was told such cases were rare but can occur in newborn babies.

The 26-year-old said: “All we were told is they did not know what was wrong, but he was very poorly and had blood on the lung.

“It’s scary to think of having any more. George was supposed to make us complete as a family.

“It’s put stress and strain on my marriage and the children have been having trouble too.”

“We have only just started grieving and are trying to move on.

“We were hoping to have another boy to finish the family off.

“That’s why it’s hard, we wanted him so much.”