WINSFORD’s MP has hailed the 'amazing' support after breaking down in tears in the House of Commons as she described the anguish of losing her baby son.

Antoinette Sandbach, MP for Eddisbury, told MPs about losing her five-day-old son to sudden infant death syndrome – or cot death – six years ago.

Ms Sandbach had been taking part in a debate about a lack of bereavement care in maternity units.

The Winsford MP courageously told MPs about her own personal nightmare of how she lost her son Sam to sudden infant death syndrome.

“The night my son died, I woke to find him not breathing,” she told the Commons.

“Arriving at hospital, looking at a flatline in the ambulance for over 20 minutes, a crash team was waiting for me, but it was too late.”

Since making the speech, Ms Sandbach has been flooded with messages from people all over the UK.

“The reaction I have has been amazing,” she told the Guardian. “I’ve had people from all generations contacting me and from all over the country thanking me about raising this issue.

“My mailbox has been completely full since I gave the speech from people wanting to thank me for raising this issue.

“And not just parents neither, I’ve had doctors and midwives coming to me to say thank you.”

Ms Sandbach said a major issue in dealing with the aftermath of such a tragedy is people actually talking to the bereaved.

“A lot of people say people don’t talk to them after something like this happens,” she said. “But the truth is, you can’t say the wrong thing because nothing you can do can bring that person back.”

She also said those affected are often forced to wait long periods before receiving counselling.

It is part of the reason why she chose to take part in the debate, despite being such a heart-wrenching topic.

“Writing my speech brought everything back to me, all those feelings from when my baby died returned,” she said.

“But it’s really important that MPs talk about their real life experiences. I want to make sure I change things.

“I know there will be parents in Eddisbury, possibly going back generations that would have been affected by this.”

Following the debate, Ms Sandbach has been asked to sit on a working group that will look into improving bereavement care in maternity units.