Selling Sunset's Maya Vander Describes Moment She Knew Something Was Wrong Before Devastating Stillbirth

Trigger warning: This article discusses stillbirth and baby loss

Earlier this month, Selling Sunset's Maya Vander took to Instagram, where she told followers that she had suffered from a stillbirth at 38 weeks.

Now, Maya - who is also mum to Aiden, two and Elle, 19 months, is speaking out about baby loss in a bid to raise awareness and help other mums who have been through a similar tragedy.

Instagram/ Maya Vander)

Opening up about what happened, Maya told followers: "Yesterday was the hardest day of my life. I had a still birth at 38 weeks. I always heard of it but never imagined I’ll be part of the statistics.

"Instead of delivering a baby, I get to go home with a memory box… I do not wish this on anyone. What was a regular weekly checkup turned into a nightmare that I never imagine will happen to me.

"Given I share my pregnancies in the show I knew I’ll have to post about this and avoid the 'when is your due date' question.

"You will always be in our heart baby Mason."

Alongside the heartbreaking words was a photograph of Maya's memory box, filled with a number of baby items.

Maya Vander/Instagram)

Speaking about the moments leading up to the scan, Maya told ELLE she had felt less movement than usual. While she had hoped she was being 'paranoid', doctors were unable to find a heartbeat.

“A few days prior to losing the baby, I felt less movement. I went to a private ultrasound.. .Normal heartbeat, baby was moving. So at that point I'm like, ‘I'm just being paranoid'," she said.

"Clearly I'm two weeks away from delivery, probably less room to move. And that's why I feel the baby move less.’ Four days later. And I still felt the baby move, here and there. Not as much, but I still felt movements. And then when I went to the checkup, put the Doppler on my belly, [the doctor] just couldn't find a heartbeat.

“...So within three hours, I was already at the hospital basically ready for delivery.”

Instagram/Maya Vander)

According to charity Tommy's, one in every 225 pregnancies in 2020 ended in stillbirth, with approximately seven babies born stillborn each day. Around 60 per cent of all stillbirths are unexplained, with doctors unable to tell parents why their baby has passed away.

For help, support or advice, please visit Tommy's or Sands.

Our thoughts are with Maya and her family at this very sad time.

Topics: Life, Selling Sunset, Parenting

Lucy Devine

Lucy is a journalist working for Tyla. After graduating with a master's degree in journalism, she has worked in both print and online and is particularly interested in fashion, food, health and women's issues. Northerner, coffee addict, says hun a lot.

@lucedevine