A GROUP of women who met at an antenatal class have pulled together to support their friend after the death of her little girl.

The friends, who all met during their first pregnancy in 2009, are rallying together to raise awareness of the condition that saw Annabelle Booth lose her fight for life at just seven-weeks-old.

Stephanie Booth was just 33 weeks pregnant when she went into labour with Annabelle.

The 33-year-old, who lived on Chester Road, Winsford, for eight years, is now hoping to raise awareness of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) – a condition where the diaphragm fails to develop fully in the unborn baby.

The Action for Annabelle Crew, made up of the six couples who met at the antenatal class, is preparing to tackle a 10K run for charity CDH UK.

Steph said: “We became best friends and have experienced the highs and lows of parenthood together. It’s really helped that everyone has pulled together during this awful time – I appreciate it so much.

“When I had Annabelle all I could think of was trying to raise money for the CDH UK charity because this horrible condition is so underfunded and under researched.

“It’s as common as cystic fibrosis and spina bifida but hardly anyone has heard of it.”

Steph, who is married to 41-year-old Billy and mother to three-year-old Jessica, said: “Our world came crashing down around us when we found out our baby had CDH.

“We were advised that there was a 50 per cent chance of survival and we decided that, providing further tests came back normal, we would carry on with the pregnancy.

“Billy had been offered a job in Plymouth and I’d actually gone down to visit him when I went into labour at 33 weeks. It was like a film – I didn’t realise I was in labour until I was bent over puffing like a steam train.”

Annabelle weighed just 4lb and was transferred to St Michael’s Hospital in Bristol for surgery, where it was discovered she also had a brain migration disorder.

Annabelle died on August 18 – her actual due date – at just seven-weeks-old.

Steph said: “We have no regrets about giving Annabelle a chance. She will be a part of our lives forever and we miss her so much.

“We just hope that by doing this run we can give some help and support to other families who have gone through what we have.

“We’re hoping to raise £2,000 for the charity and we’re also trying to get 10,000 signatures on an e-petition we’re running to get more funding for CDH UK.”

The run is taking place at Queen’s Park, Crewe on November 18 and donations can be made by visiting www.mycharitypage.com/AnnabellesMummy

To sign the e-petition visit epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/33898