A MOTHER who dreamed of having a child following a miscarriage three years ago has died just 10 days after giving birth to a daughter.

Michelle Grafton, 29, of Padgate, Warrington, died from a blood clot.

Miss Grafton, a former nursery nurse at Bewsey Lodge Primary School, was five months pregnant when she lost a baby to the rare disorder pre-eclampsia, which also threatened her own life.

Then she fell pregnant again and this month gave birth to 5lb 10oz Laila Grace, after surviving a ruptured appendix 28 weeks into her pregnancy.

But only four days after leaving Warrington General Hospital's maternity ward, she collapsed at her home with a blood clot.

Paramedics battled to save her but she died in the ambulance.

Doctors said the pulmonary embolism that took Miss Grafton's life was not related to her earlier miscarriage or the birth of Laila Grace.

Her fiance, Neil Shepherd, 31, a chartered surveyor, last night told the Daily Post: "She was an immensely brave person. I am still in disbelief - it hasn't sunk in yet.

"The first pregnancy went so badly it took her three years before she would contemplate having a baby again.

"It meant so much to her when Laila was born. I have known her for 14 years and I've never seen her happier than in those last few days. In every photo we have of her she has a beautiful smile."

The couple had lived in Warrington for three years and previously lived in Chester for 18 months. They met when Michelle was a sixth form student in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.

They had been engaged for more than a year and were planning to marry in a chateau in the south of France next summer.

Miss Grafton's funeral took place in Barrow on Friday.

Her mother, Beryl Grafton, said she was "over the moon" when her daughter gave birth.

Mrs Grafton, of Barrow Island, Cumbria said: "She had 10 days of being a mother. It meant everything to her. It's an absolute tragedy.

"Laila is a beautiful baby, she looks like a perfect little doll.

"Michelle was brilliant with children. It was wonderful to watch her with Laila."

Pre-eclampsia occurs after problems with the placenta and leads to high blood pressure and protein in the urine.

After losing her first baby to the condition, Miss Grafton's family said she was determined to know everything about the disorder before trying for another child.

She read books, went to medical conferences and was hoping to do work with Apec, a pre-eclampsia charity.

Mr Shepherd added: "She ended up almost dedicating her life to it. She wanted other mothers to know about the condition."