Newborn Baby Smiles Happily in Mom's Arms, Unaware He's Seeing Her for the Last Time

The joy of motherhood is an experience many women hope to have, but the exciting season comes with various challenges. A young mom was looking forward to giving birth and raising her son, but her story took a shocking turn.

Becoming a parent isn't easy, and many people are thrown into the deep end when they first bring their bundle of joy home. Without the supervision of doctors, nurses, and midwives, ensuring an infant's safety can be daunting.

However, the health of new mothers must also be prioritized. During and after giving birth, a woman's body is pushed to new extremes, and things can go wrong in the blink of an eye — grab your tissues and read one British mom's emotional story.

AN EXCITING NEW CHAPTER

Seventeen-year-old Teegan Barnard was delighted when she discovered she was pregnant and counted the days until her baby boy's arrival.

While Abbie couldn't speak about what happened in the delivery room during the baby's birth, she shared a heartfelt message for her daughter.

The pizza chef was passionate about horse riding and had recently taken up knitting. She didn't mind that her hobbies would need to take a back seat so she could prepare for the significant milestone of becoming a parent.

FAMILY SUPPORT

Together with her mom Abbie Hallawell, and grandmother, June Hallawell, Barnard had the needed support, and her loved ones were equally excited to meet the newest family member.

Baby Parker John Bernard was born happy and healthy in September 2019 at St. Richard's Hospital in Chichester, United Kingdom.

June and Abbie acted as Barnard's birthing partners while staying by her side and watching the precious miracle unfold. Abbie revealed that her daughter desperately longed to be a mom. She added:

"She was so looking forward to being a [mom], she was so excited. I think people got fed up with us talking about it all the time."

A HEARTBREAKING PHOTO

Abbie took many photos of her first grandchild, and one of the pictures captured Parker smiling in his mother's arms. However, the image didn't completely depict what was happening.

The adorable newborn was resting with his mom, but she was unaware. Barnard's health deteriorated during labor, and the new mom suffered severe damage after going into cardiac arrest.

Midwives tried to assist, performing CPR and other emergency techniques, but nothing worked. The tragic photo of a smiling Parker was one of his final moments with Barnard — and she passed away just a few hours after it was taken.

KEEPING HER MEMORY ALIVE

For Abbie, her grandson needed to have something to look back on when he was older. While he would never meet his mother, he would know she loved him. Abbie said:

"I put them together at every possible moment. Now she has gone we dress Parker in vests with his [mom's] picture on. I want to keep her close to him always."

"Seeing Parker in his [mom's] arms where he belongs has been so important to me," she added. Barnard's family visited her for a month during her time in the hospital, even though she had no brain activity.

SHOCKED AND DEVASTATED

The family eventually brought Barnard home so she could pass away in peace. Her passing stunned them, mainly because the 17-year-old had been healthy and strong.

The loss left Abbie utterly devastated, and she expressed that their whole family was in shock and wanted their beloved daughter to return to them. Abbie shared:

"I didn't realize my heart could break into a million pieces. I'll never be the same again. I miss her so much, it's unbearable. I can't imagine the future without her, not hearing her beautiful voice again."

Barnard's grandmother was also shattered after her passing. Abbie revealed that June had already lost two sons, so the death of another loved one "knocked her for a six."

THE BEST MOM IN THE WORLD

Parker's grandmother and his dad, Leon Forster, planned to raise the little boy. While Abbie couldn't speak about what happened in the delivery room during the baby's birth, she shared a heartfelt message for her daughter.

Abbie said she was immensely proud of Barnard and wanted her to experience the joy of holding Parker and doting on him. She noted:

"She would have been the best [mom] in the world. She had so much love for him and didn’t even get to show him."

Barnard and Abbie were more like best friends than mom and daughter, so the pain she felt was two-fold. "I'd do anything to have her back. I miss her more than anything in the world," Abbie added.

THE WORLD CRIED WITH THEM

The online community was shocked by the young mother's death, and many sympathized with her family. People offered their condolences, and one commenter wrote:

"This is so very sad for the young lady. May she rest in peace. God bless the beautiful little baby boy and the girl's family. So sorry for their loss, prayers for the family and friends."

Another user said: "He knew the love. It was while his mom became his angel. [Italians] say that when babies smile, angels are playing with them."

Baby Parker will never have the chance to get to know his mom, but thanks to his grandmother and the rest of his family, he will never doubt how much she loved him. What do you think about Barnard's tragic experience?

If you enjoyed reading this tear-jerking story, here is another about a woman who struggled during childbirth. She predicted her passing, and the incredible insight helped save her life.