Woman's 4ft-long dreadlocks shaved for baby loss fundraise

The mother tearfully said it was "too late to go back now" as her dreadlocks were shaved clean off

A woman whose baby son lived for only two days has shaven off her knee-length dreadlocks to raise money for a charity that helped with her loss.

Jessica Herbert's son Oaken was diagnosed with the genetic disorder Edwards Syndrome during pregnancy.

The family, from York, were supported by their local children's hospice while they spent two days with Oaken after he was born in August 2020.

Mrs Herbert, who raised about £21,500, said it was "an incredible journey".

Her knee-length dreadlocks were cut on Saturday at the Deer Shed Base Camp Plus event

A crowd of spectators at the Deer Shed Festival, near Thirsk, watched as the arboriculturist's 11-year-old dreadlocks, which measured 4ft 2in in length, were chopped off by her husband Simon.

During the 40-minute cut, she said tearfully: "It's too late to go back now."

"They've come to represent a really important part of my identity," Mrs Herbert said.

"They have character and they just feel like me."

She said she was "really nervous" but there was "no turning back" as she wanted to raise money for Martin House hospice after the "wonderful" support and treatment she and her family had received during their difficult time.

The couple, who have a daughter called Willow, knew Oaken was unlikely to survive after finding out about the chromosome problem, also known as Trisomy 18, at Mrs Herbert's 12-week scan.

The family previously said how they felt lucky Oaken was born alive, despite weighing only 3.5 pounds.

Baby Oaken was born in August 2020