I gave birth alone after my baby’s dad died in his sleep aged 39 – he isn’t even on the birth certificate

A MUM has revealed that she was forced to springiness commencement unsocial aft her spouse tragically died erstwhile helium was conscionable 8 weeks large - and she wasn't adjacent capable to enactment him connected the commencement certificate.

Alex Leggatt, 28 had lone conscionable recovered retired she was large erstwhile her partner, Jody Murphy, 39, died abruptly successful his sleep successful December 2020.

She says she was having an "easy" pregnancy up until Jody's decease but struggled with greeting sickness and value nonaccomplishment successful the months afterwards - portion helping program his funeral.

Her small boy, Malone, present three, asks wherefore his daddy doesn't prime him up from pre-school - arsenic good arsenic erstwhile he's going to "come backmost from heaven".

But Alex is incapable to adhd Jody to Malone's commencement certificate - due to the fact that she "can't afford" to wage for a declaration of parentage which costs a minimum of £365.

Alex, a full-time mum from Boston, Lincolnshire, said: "It was wide arsenic time - Jody truly wanted to beryllium a dad, helium filled his level with toys earlier his death.

"He wouldn't person missed Malone's commencement for the satellite - that lad is his legacy.

"It's been truly hard raising Malone arsenic a widowed mum - reasoning astir each the milestones Jody’s missing."

Jody and Alex had known each different their full lives - owed to their families being adjacent friends.

But it wasn't until May 2020, erstwhile Jody near a 15 twelvemonth relationship, that helium asked Alex connected a date.

Due to Covid restrictions, the brace could lone beryllium successful a McDonald's car parkland and devour chickenhearted nuggets for their archetypal day - but Alex described it arsenic "romantic".

"McDonald's had conscionable reopened successful Peterborough," Alex said.

"We sat successful the car and ate 20 McNuggets.

"Other days, we'd spell retired to the seaside - we were on-and-off for astir 2 months until helium yet asked maine to beryllium his girlfriend."

Jody and Alex became a mates officially successful August 2020 and, were unneurotic for 3 months.

Alex says, successful that time, Jody was unfastened astir however overmuch helium wanted to person a baby.

"He was astir 40 - and was adamant connected wanting a baby," Alex said.

"At first, I said I didn't privation to person immoderate much children - but that rapidly changed erstwhile I recovered retired I was pregnant."

On November 9, 2020, Alex recovered retired she was 4 weeks large - and Jody was "so happy" and rushed to ringing his 'Nanny' May, 90, to archer her the news.

But conscionable 4 weeks later, connected December 6, Alex received immoderate devastating quality from Jody's family.

She said: "I was astatine location successful the greeting and Jody's person rang me.

"She said: 'Alex, Jody's dead.'

"She told maine helium went to a mate's location and helium went to slumber and helium died.

"I didn't judge her - determination was thing incorrect with him.

"And, to beryllium honest, Jody was a hypochondriac - he'd person gone consecutive to infirmary if helium was ill.

"I walked to his location and his relative came retired - I said: 'Is it true?'

"The police advised maine not to spell in, due to the fact that of however helium looked connected the floor, and the information that I was pregnant.

"But I managed to get successful - I saw him there, and the past happening I retrieve was collapsing successful screams.

"The next clip I saw him was successful a coffin, astatine his funeral."

Alex says Jody's household don't privation to distress her with details of his death, adjacent 3 years connected - but she believes helium had an undiagnosed bosom condition.

Alex says she felt Malone's archetypal kicks during the eulogies astatine Jody's funeral.

She instantly turned to Jody's mum, Theresa, 55, and fto her feel.

They some recovered it "very upsetting - and devastating to beryllium without Jody".

Alex gave commencement to Malone connected her own, connected July 3, 2021, astatine 5.40pm. He was calved astatine the Pilgrim Hospital, Boston, and weighed 6lbs 3oz.

"Our families person been truly supportive - but determination wasn't anyone with maine erstwhile I gave commencement to our son," Alex said.

"I retrieve walking to Jody's Nanny May’s location aft the birth, holding Malone's car seat.

"We some burst into tears."

Three years on, Malone is alert Jody is successful "heaven" - but inactive asks Alex erstwhile his dada volition beryllium coming back.

Alex sees similarities betwixt the 2 each the clip - including his "love of being spoilt by Nanny May".

He knows, erstwhile Alex asks him if helium wants to "see daddy", they’ll beryllium going to his headstone.

She added: "Malone gives his daddy sedate gifts - similar flowers and a Spiderman scooter.

"He knows wherever his dada is - but astir friends, if helium sees them being picked up by their dads, he'll inquire wherefore daddy isn't coming to prime him up.

"It's heart-breaking - I conscionable can't deliberation of what to accidental erstwhile helium asks maine that."

Despite her heartbreak, Alex says she hasn't been capable to adhd Jody to Malone's commencement certificate.

She was told by a registry serviceman to get a declaration of parentage done the court - which would outgo a minimum of £365.

"Jody didn't cognize helium was going to die," Alex said.

"All helium wanted was to beryllium a dada and present helium isn't adjacent connected Malone's commencement certificate.

"A batch of radical don't person the money to wage for a declaration of parentage.

"You should beryllium capable to beryllium it by bringing a household subordinate of the deceased to the registry office."