When Christina Cowin shows off her beautiful baby son, Reuben, it’s not just a matter of maternal pride.

She wants to send a message of hope to anyone who is struggling with the heartbreak of a stillbirth or miscarriage.

You may have read last year about how Christina and her husband, Martin, coped with the stillbirth of their daughter, Ruby.

Everything had seemed to be going well until Christina went for her 20-week scan and was devastated to learn that her baby had no heartbeat.

She was taken into hospital and had to go through labour.

This time it’s a very different story: Reuben Richard Cowin was born on February 25 weighing 6lb 11oz, a beautiful, healthy baby boy.

Christina went into labour just over a week before her due date, at four o’clock in the morning and Reuben arrived at 10am on the dot.

Christina recalled: ’When they took him out he wasn’t crying.

’They just put him on me and I was saying: "Why is he not crying", but Martin was like: "He’s fine his eyes are open."

’He was out and he was safe - that’s all I cared about.’

After the tragic end to her first pregnancy, Christina was determined not to get too anxious when she found she was pregnant again.

’I didn’t want to pass on distress to the baby,’ she said.

And she was also reassured by being given the best of care.

She was put on daily Clexane injections, which she administered herself, and mini aspirin to thin her blood and she was monitored carefully at the hospital.

She said: ’I had scans every two weeks up to 20 weeks and then every month.

’Mrs Moroney took a personal interest and I’d like to thank her and all the midwives and staff at the Jane.’

And she has a clear message to anyone else who has suffered a heartbreaking end to their prgenancy.

She said: ’Don’t give up. At the end of the day there is always a rainbow after a storm and if you really want to have another baby it is possible.

’Don’t worry about it and don’t give up hope.

’We’re proof that you can go through the hardest time in your life that would break your heart, and you’ll always have that piece of your heart missing, but Reuben’s not replacing his sister - he was sent by her.

’He’s just got that extra special little sister in the sky who’s looking after him.

’Look at him, he’s just amazing.

’I want to say to people: if this is what you want, just go for it.’