Lily Allen's humbling words on the tragic stillbirth she suffered four years ago

Lily Allen talks candidly about the tragic stillbirth she suffered four years ago in an emotional interview...

Four years ago, Lily Allen experienced something that every expectant mum fears most; she suffered a stillbirth at six months pregnant.

The baby boy was Lily's first child, and the tragedy came less than two years after suffering a miscarriage. Just days later and the stillbirth caused Lily to be hospitalised with septicaemia - blood poisoning due to an infection.

Lily became emotional while talking to Jonathan Ross about the stillbirth of her baby boy in 2010. 

That was all in 2010. Since then, Lily has gone on to marry her partner Sam Cooper, have two healthy baby girls, a string of musical successes and has even taken her children with her on a tour of America.

Lily has spoken briefly in the past about that chapter of her life, but never before have we heard her speak so candidly about the experience. And how did she get through it? With the help of her partner, she explains.

Speaking to Jonathan Ross on his chat show, which airs this weekend, the 29 year old said:

'Even though it was the most unfortunate thing that can ever happen to a person, I was very fortunate in the sense that I have a loving partner to go home to and share that experience with.

Lily is now mum to two girls: Ethel Mary, two, and Marnie Rose, one. 

'There are many women - [there are] 17 stillbirths in the UK everyday - that go home and they don't have that support, they have to go home and deal with that on their own so I am kind of in a bit of a - since that happened - in a count my blessings scenario rather than feeling sorry for myself.'

The star was also keen to add that being a celebrity didn't differentiate her experience from anyone else's: 'I think it's difficult for anybody regardless of what world they live in,' the mum-of-two said.

 Lily married her partner Sam Cooper in Gloucestershire in 2011. It was revealed on her wedding day that she was pregnant with Ethel. 

Lily isn't the only high profile celebrity to have lost a baby in recent years. Amanda Holden lost her baby boy, who she named Theo, at seven months into her pregnancy. Coronation Street's Kym Marsh also went through the same tragedy with her son, Archie, at 22 weeks, in 2009. And earlier this year, Ben Fogle and his wife, Marina, lost their baby just eight weeks before their due date.

Amanda Holden and Kym Marsh have both suffered stillbirths, as have Ben Fogle and his wife, who lost their third child at seven months pregnant in August this year. 

Many women suffer stillbirths everyday, and the reasons why aren't always clear, which can make the experience feel all the more unjust. We recently saw a movement take place on social media which we thought was rather beautiful. Bereaved parents worldwide lit a candle last month for Baby Loss Awareness Week and posted the pictures online.

The #LightACandle campaign gave hope to bereaved parents who'd suffered the loss of a baby. 

Not only was it symbolic of all the babies who were taken too soon, but it was a comforting ray of hope to those going through such a distressing time that there were others out there experiencing the very same. You can read more about the campaign here.

For more miscarriage and stillbirth help, see here... 

Lifestyle Writer

Gemma Chandler is a lifestyle writer specialising in kids' educational media across a range of topics including nature, history, science and geography across digital, print, social media and video channels. She joined Creature & Co. at 2015, shortly becoming Digital Editor of National Geographic Kids magazine.