MOTHER'S Day is traditionally a time for breakfast in bed, homemade cards and kisses and cuddles but Jerrabomberra mum Jaye Cox says for her it will always be a day tinged in sadness.
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It has been just over a year since Mrs Cox lost her daughter Annabelle and the memory of losing her baby is still fresh.
The little girl was stillborn last May at just 20 weeks and three days old. She had spina bifida and fluid on the brain and the family was informed she could not survive to full term.
After the difficult experience, Mrs Cox decided she wanted to fundraise for a 'cuddle cot' in memory of Annabelle.
The cot has a cooling system which allows stillborn babies, or babies who die shortly after birth to live that little bit longer and allow families a bit of extra time with them.
The 'cuddle cot' can also be used in car seats or in a cot at home if the family want to take their baby home for a while.
"It would mean the world to me to be able to give other families that chance to have that bit longer with their child and spend more time with them," the 33-year-old said.
"That was one of the things we couldn't have so to be able to provide that for other people, understanding their position, would be the best thing to come out of our situation."
A 'cuddle cot' costs about $4500 and Mrs Cox has raised almost half that amount through her GoFundMe page titled 'Annabelle's Gift'. She hopes to donate the cot to the Canberra Hospital and eventually one to Queanbeyan Hospital and Calvary Hospital.
Mrs Cox said she feels it's important to talk about her own experiences to break down the barrier around stillbirths.
"It's hard to talk about because there is still a stigma surrounding stillbirths and babies dying. People tend to not want to talk about it and shun away from it," she said.
"That's part of my drive. Not just to raise money for this cuddle cot but also to raise the awareness of stillbirth and infants dying.
"They still are people and deserve to be recognised."
Mrs Cox acknowledged that this Mother's Day will be one filled with a range of emotions as she grapples with Annabelle's first anniversary and the birth of her fourth child.
"Mother's Day will always have a tinge of sadness for me because there will always be someone missing but it means...there's a select group of mothers that have angels and to be part of that group is special in its own way," Mrs Cox said.
The former nurse will spend the day with her husband and daughters Charlotte, 7 and Sophie, 5 who she says mean the world to her. They will visit Annabelle's grave and spend the day at the Cotter together.
"Last Mother's Day was a tough one as Annabelle had been born but she wasn't buried yet," she said.
"I'm hoping that this one will be better because she's at peace, I don't have that worry that she's in limbo whereas now she's no longer suffering."
To donate to Annabelle's Gift visit www.gofundme.com/Annabelle-s-Gift.
