A heartbroken mum whose first baby was stillborn has made a set of Mother’s Day cards honouring grieving parents.
Hannah Pontillo says she did not feel “recognised as a mum” after son Dexy died three weeks before her due date. Last Mother’s Day was “unbearable”.
Determined mums like her would feel valued next Sunday, Hannah has helped create the touching designs alongside card company Thortful.
Hannah, 22, who went on to have son River in December, said: “Giving birth to Dexy knowing he’d died was agonising.
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“Afterwards people forgot I was a mother.
“But I hadn’t stopped being one just because my baby died.
“Mother’s Day cards usually talk about tying children’s shoelaces, playing and looking after them.
“For my cards I imagined what Dexy would say to me if he could.”
All profits from her cards will be donated to charity Kicks Count.
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It says 15 families experience stillbirth and neonatal deaths every day.
Hannah had been trying for a baby for two years with husband Phil, 30, and had a miscarriage in 2016.
Finding out she was pregnant in 2017 was a “dream come true”.
But in January last year — at almost 37weeks pregnant — she was woken by her baby kicking more than usual. The following day, she felt nothing.
At Brighton Hospital, Hannah and Phil, a retail manager, were told Dexy had suffered a loss of oxygen and died.
She was induced and three days later, returned to give birth.
“The days between learning there was no heartbeat and labour were horrendous,” she said.
“We were told Dexy would weigh 5lb so bought him a tiny outfit. To the outside eye we looked like expectant parents.
“But we knew we’d be bringing home no baby.
“I had an epidural for the birth so was physically numb but my heart was breaking.”
The couple spent the weekend in hospital with Dexy, who was kept in a cold cot.
Hannah, of Hove, East Sussex, said: “Those days were so precious. Then we tucked him up with a teddy and said goodnight as we couldn’t face saying goodbye”.
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As they reeled from their loss, last Mother’s Day was especially raw.
So Hannah, who found out she was pregnant again in May, contacted Thortful to rant.
Supermarket worker Hannah said: “I asked how come I can buy cards from my dog but can’t buy one from my dead son.
“I was stunned when they asked me to help create some and write the words.”
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Messages on the cards include: “To the greatest mummy: you always looked after me, now I’ll watch over you.”
The couple, who see grief counsellors, show River photos of his big brother.
River’s birth was “bittersweet”, Hannah says, adding: “At Christmas, it was the three of us, plus Dexy’s ashes.
“But this Mother’s Day, I can’t wait to get cards from both my children.”
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Thortful cards cost £3.29 from thortful.com.
