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Toddler drowns in swimming pool - then her pregnant mum sees her face in unborn son’s ultrasound

It comforted her just when she needed it most

By Practical Parenting team

November 14 2018

A pregnant mum whose 19-month-old daughter, Emmy, died when she accidentally fell into a neighbour’s pool has spoken about the comforting message she received during a hospital appointment, just five days later.

Thank you for all the love and support and to our midwives @lindseymeehleis and @courtneykellis for helping us find the support our family needs during this impossible time.

Morgan Beck, a former US professional beach volleyball player, and her husband Bode Miller, an Olympic skier, were still reeling from the devastating loss of their little daughter when she was advised to check on the health of their unborn son and have an ultrasound scan.

Revealing the story on Instagram, on what would have been Emmy’s second birthday, Morgan said, “I reluctantly had the ultrasound tech come check on the baby growing in my belly. To step into my future without my daughter felt like a dagger to my heart.”

The radiographer offered to snap a 3-D image of her unborn son, but Morgan said no. He took one anyway, excited to have the perfect angle for a clear and close-up 3-D shot.

When Morgan took a closer look at the ultrasound image, she saw something that gave her goosebumps — an photograph that she describes as the “angel” of her unborn baby’s late sister.

The ultrasound image of the new baby which Morgan sees as the angel of Emmy (right) hugging her little brother

“He looked so much like my other babies, just like Bode with that sweet nose and those full lips,” Morgan wrote. “But as quickly as I saw this new baby, my eyes moved to the angel lying to the right of his face, holding him, arms around his neck. Almost as if to say, ‘It’s okay. I’m here. It’s going to be okay. I love you.” I hold onto this picture as a clear sign that my son knows his sister. That my baby girl Emmy is still with us. “

Bode and Morgan’s son was born on October 5, 2018.

When we walked out of the hospital without our Emmy, despair and uncertainty surrounded us. The parting words from the medical staff, in those early hours after we lost our baby Emmy, was to check on the baby in my tummy. So, 5 days after losing her, I reluctantly had the ultrasound tech come check on the baby growing in my belly. To step into my future without my daughter felt like a dagger to my heart. How can life change so quickly? During the last ultrasound, my baby Emmy lay in my arms wondering what she was looking at on the screen. And, now, she was gone. This time, I asked the tech to be quick. She asked if I wanted a 3D image to which I replied, "no." She swiftly maneuvered the wand around my stomach, checking on all parts. As she viewed the baby's profile, she told me, "I know you don't want a 3D image but this is a perfect angle and I feel like I need to do one. I will be quick." As the screen switched over to 3D imaging, I saw my sweet baby's face. He looked so much like my other babies: just like Bode with that sweet nose and those full lips. But as quickly as I saw this new baby, my eyes moved to the angel lying to the right of his face, holding him, arms around his neck. Almost as if to say, "It's okay. I'm here. It's going to be okay. I love you." I hold onto this picture as a clear sign that my son knows his sister. That my baby girl Emmy is still with us. And now that our sweet baby boy is here earth side, he now holds her.

The Millers have spoken about what happened to their daughter to warn other parents about the dangers of swimming pools with the hope they can prevent another family from suffering a similar tragedy.

They post photos of their beloved little girl and have started a charity to help parents realise it only takes 30 seconds for a child to drown in a pool.

I often find myself wanting to reach into videos and pictures and just pull you out. Searching for ways to bring you back so our family is whole again. So our hearts are whole again. We miss you so much, my love. ........ Parents, Grandparents, Siblings, Aunts and Uncles, EVERYONE....Please don't rely on the visual stimulant of water to create your awareness/sense of urgency. Understand that almost 70% of drownings occur when your children are not expected to be near the water. When you think they are in the playroom or on the sofa watching tv. Always be aware of water and place as many barriers between your child and those bodies of water as possible (locks, door alarms, pool fences). None of us are immune to this devastatingly life changing statistic. It can happen so fast and forever change your world. #drowningprevention #helpspreadawareness #knowledgeispower #stopdrowningnow

Along with their newborn son, the couple also has a 3-year-old son together, and Bode Miller has a son and a daughter from two previous relationships.