It has been six years, almost to the day, since Rachael Tickner heard the words that tore her world apart.

Just weeks into her first pregnancy, she and her husband Brenton were told “your baby no longer has a heartbeat”.

Her “Chickpea”, a little boy, had died. A missed miscarriage. A silent loss that would become the first of two tragedies for the couple.

“We had just found out in November and we were so excited we told all our family,” she said.

“I look back and think maybe we should have waited until after the twelve week scan to tell people but we were so excited. You see those two pink lines and that’s the thing, as soon as you find out you are pregnant all your hopes and dreams of starting a family begin.”

The loss of Chickpea was followed by a ruptured ectopic pregnancy just five months later.

Losing “Chestnut” cemented the grief Rachael had been engulfed in, sending her into a “dark place” for nearly two years.

“Like everyone when you hope to start a family you hope and pray everything will be okay,” she said.

“But 282 women a day sadly go through early pregnancy loss and so many of those women suffer in silence.

While Rachael and her husband have gone on to bring boys Ollie and Oscar into the world, the loss of her “Flutterby Babies” has left a deep void.

“You never forget. Each year when the due date passes for our little Flutterby Babies, I reflect on how old they would have been,” she said.

To honour Chickpea and Chestnut and to help raise awareness of early pregnancy loss, Rachael has written and published Flutterby Baby, Forever in Our Hearts, a 52 page book exploring topics to help support those who have suffered early pregnancy loss.

“There are so many emotions when it happens and the things people say to you, things like it wasn’t a fully formed baby and I know they say it to make you feel better but once you conceive, one you know it, it all becomes so real,” Rachael said.

“People will tell you that it is time to move on, some people distance themselves from you and then there are those who are very supportive. This book I really hope will be something people can gift to someone who needs it.

“I hope also it will remind women they are not alone.”

“One lady said wanted to record how happy her husband was when they found out (they were pregnant) and she doesn’t want to forget that moment. She wants to record that so one day they can still reflect on the joy.”

Partnering with her chosen charity for the book, The Pink Elephants Support Network, five dollars from every book sold will go to the charity, Rachael said.

The book has been illustrated with watercolour paintings by local Brisbane resident Joanna Osborne, the Graphic Design by Tanya Heath, and calligraphy by Charlotte Chan. Michelle Worthington was the editor of the book.

The book can be purchased at www.flutterbybabybook.com.au