THREE Dwyfor women, who have suffered the brutal loss of stillborn babies, have raised £17,000 for causes close to their hearts.

Sisters Laura Battersea, from Criccieth and Hanna Lloyd, from Chwilog along with their friend Nerys Jones, of Porthmadog, organised an auction in 2015 to raise money for SANDS Gwynedd (Stillbirth and Neonatal Deaths) and their local midwives in memory of their babies who were stillborn a few months earlier.

All three wanted to show their appreciation to those who had helped them through this difficult time, as well as raise money to help those who may go through the same traumatic experience in the future.

Nerys said: “We managed to raise £17,000, which exceeded all our expectations, and we would like to wholeheartedly thank everyone for their support and generosity.”

The first item purchased with the funds raised was a birthing pool for high risk mothers on the Labour Ward at Ysbyty Gwynedd, with calming LED lights. This gives high risk mothers the option to have a water birth within the ward while being monitored closely.

The three women have also been able to buy their local midwives numerous items of up-to-date equipment such as a Baby Anne mannequin for CPR training; hospital grade breast pumps to help promote feeding, especially for those with premature babies; five portable electric breast pumps and six sonicaids to help monitor the wellbeing of a baby in pregnancy.