A MUM who almost aborted her baby after being told by a hospital that it was dead is now caring for her two-week old daughter - and warning other pregnant women to be vigilant against similar mistakes.

Had Rebecca Blachford, 26, gone along with the advice of medics at Royal Bournemouth Hospital, little Emily would never have been born.

A mistake led to Rebecca being told her pregnancy needed to be aborted as there was no heartbeat registering for her unborn child.

But the scan had been done when Rebecca was only five weeks pregnant, when it is possible a heartbeat will not be picked up by the equipment.

The hospital had miscalculated Rebecca's pregnancy and thought she was in her sixth week.

Only when she asked for a last-minute scan did the hospital find Emily's faint heartbeat.

The mum-of-two - her other daughter Abigail is two-and-a-half years-old - has vowed never to return to the Bournemouth hospital after the mix up.

She gave birth to 7lb 11oz Emily at Poole Hospital on January 17.

Back home in Witchampton, near Wimborne, Rebecca said: "When they told me she was dead it did not add up because my stomach was still getting bigger."

The drama caused Rebecca and husband James, 27, to put off decorating a nursery room for Emily or buy baby items until Emily was safely born.

Rebecca wants her story to be a warning to other mothers who might experience similar circumstances, urging them to be vigilant and seek a second check.

Royal Bournemouth Hospital has taken action, mainly focused on the time between baby scans, to reduce the chance of a similar event happening again.

First published: Feb 1