A MUM has bravely shared the heartbreaking story of losing her baby, in a bid raise more awareness about stillbirths.

Chantal Hodgson who lives in Cumnock, is trying to remove the stigma around talking about stillborn babies.

She was left shattered when her pregnancy ended in tragedy, after her son Connor was born without a heartbeat.

Chantal said: “What I will always remember was the deathly silence. No one would say anything but you could see and feel the tension and panic in the room.

“Everything was all light hearted at first in the hospital we arrived and chatted to nurses, but soon things completely changed.”

Chantal was living in South Africa when she fell pregnant for the first time in 2015.

She said: “There was no complications, I didn’t even have morning sickness. I was slightly concerned about movement but the doctor told me I had nothing to worry about, and since it was my first time I had nothing to compare it to.

“I had a little bit of pain that morning but at 38 weeks pregnant I didn’t think much of it. I was heavily pregnant I thought it be normal to be tired and uncomfortable.

“I went for a scan and booked my C section in. The last words the doctor said to me were next time I see you will be in theatre.

“The atmosphere quickly changed when I went from having one nurse in the room to having several. My gynaecologist arrived shortly and he tired to do a scan and he just there’s no heartbeat.

“I went in for a C section and was fortunate to go immediately because I was bleeding internally. My wat er didn’t br eak or anything, I had nothing except a few contractions.

"Then I gave birth to Connor. Stillborn.

“For me the only way to cope was trying to find answers. Why had this happened? What went wrong?

“We found out he had Spina Bifida but we don’t know how serious it was or much it would have affected his life, if at all. To this day I think that’s the hardest thing for me, not understanding why it happened.

“I had never heard of stillborn cases. I had heard a lot about miscarriages I was under the impression after you past 12 weeks you were fine and in the clear.

“All the magazines and books never touched on stillbirth.

People get uncomfortable when it comes up in conversation which means there isn’t enough awareness or openness about it.

“When people ask me how many children I have and I say two, but one was stillbirth, I can see them change.

I just try and raise funds for SANDS now because it gives me something positive to focus on.

“It is hard to not just be really sad when I think of Connor which I don’t want.

Instead I just wantto remember the good things like the first kick and how awesome it felt. Fundraising helps me do that.

“I’m not a runner at all but im trying to get into because it helps me sometimes on an emotional level, I did the Glasgow marathon and raised some funds.

“It was recently the four year anniversary and I thought ie be great if I could raise anything I don’t mind if it is £50 or £5000 as long as it will go towards families like mine who went through this, and that it helps the research.

“According to SANDS statistics its 15 babies a day in the UK pass away either just before still or after birth.

That’s horrendous considering the UK is a first world country.

“I was very fortunate that four months after Connor passed, I got pregnant again with my son Callen who is now three. I’m thinking of doing Glasgow Kiltwalk next.

“It’s really difficult with grief, some days I can talk about it as matter of fact but other days it will hit me really hard.

“It’s those days a simple walk can really help. So if I can walk and raise money for other families like mine, then that is what I will do.”