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She was the mum-to-be who refused to give up hope on her unborn child.

Hazel Wiggins was moments from taking an abortion pill after she was told by medics the foetus would have to be aborted as it was dead and there were no signs of life.

But today, she is the proud mum of a little girl Amelia who is now thriving.

The events unfolded in August 2013 at Northumberland’s Hexham General Hospital when Hazel, 36, was 11 weeks into her pregnancy and had an unexpected and heavy bleed.

The Prudhoe mum was rocked to the core, but refused give up hope.

She would not go ahead with the procedure later that week and instead demanded a second scan.

To her amazement, it revealed the baby was alive.

Amelia, dubbed a “proper little fighter”, was born on January 13, at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary.

The community care worker said the first scan came amid miscarriage fears after the unexpected bleed.

She said: “The midwife looked at my scan for 30 seconds and then said “I’m sorry, there is no heartbeat,” and turned the machine off.

“I said ‘Are you sure? You didn’t look at my stomach for very long,’ and she said, ‘Yes, I’m 100% sure’.”

The news was a hammer blow for Hazel, who had been overjoyed to learn she was pregnant.

She said: “It is the most heartbreaking thing someone can say to you.

“I went home and just got into bed and mourned the death of the baby.

“I let friends and family know. I cried the whole day and night.”

Days later, Hazel was back at the hospital to start the first of a series of abortion pills, but deep down she could not accept her baby was dead.

“They kept saying that I needed to take the tablets and I said that I didn’t want to,” she said.

“I told them I wanted another scan. It went on for about 20 minutes.”

Determined Hazel dug in her heels until the nurses referred her for a second scan.

“I was telling the lady who was scanning me about what had happened when she stopped and looked at me, shocked,” said Hazel.

“She said, ‘I have a baby here who is jumping all over the place, the baby is alive’.”

The medic then turned the screen to Hazel, who is also mum to 10-year-old Dylan.

She said: “Amelia looked like she was saying to me ‘Mum, please don’t take the tablets, I’m alive’.”

Northumbria NHS Healthcare Foundation Trust has apologised unreservedly for the distress caused to Hazel.

The case has led to a change in NHS policy on pre-natal scans.

Now, all expectant mothers who have a scan which shows their baby has died will be automatically offered a second scan to make absolutely sure.

Hazel, who sought the help of solicitors at Beecham Peacock in Newcastle to launch a compensation claim against the trust, is relieved other mothers will not have to endure the same ordeal.

Little Amelia was born with her liver and bowel on the outside of her body and respiratory problems but her health is improving every day.

The trust accepted liability for causing distress to the couple and the matter was settled out of court.

Dr Eliot Sykes, clinical director of emergency surgery and elective care at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said: “We have recently met with Mrs Wiggins to apologise wholeheartedly for the unnecessary distress caused following the misinterpretation of her initial scan with us at Hexham General Hospital last year.

“We have fully investigated the circumstances surrounding this unusual incident and made some important changes to ensure that two scans are always carried out as a matter of course whenever there are concerns about the viability of the foetus.

“We appreciate this must have been a very worrying time and would like to reassure them that we have taken all appropriate steps to prevent this happening in future.”

Kirsten Scott, senior partner at Beecham Peacock, said: “When Hazel was told her baby had died she was understandably devastated. Thanks to her determination and resilience, she saved Amelia’s life.

“The fact that the policy has now been changed is fantastic news for expectant parents around the country.”