Heartbreaking.

There were emotional scenes on Coronation Street this week as Michelle Connor gave birth to her stillborn son, whom she named Ruairi, after going into labour at 23 weeks. On tonight's episode, viewers saw Michelle and Steve refused a birth certificate for Ruairi before they had to say goodbye to their little boy. Fans took to Twitter to express their sadness and praise Kym Marsh for her portrayal of Michelle.

That coronation street storyline with kym marsh ???? how heartbreaking ?

— Ann-Marie Anderson (@ammcmen28) January 13, 2017

Well done to @itvcorrie @msm4rsh for these episodes. Very well done. I went through the same thing 11 years ago but remember it like y'day

— Kim Gally (@kim_gally) January 13, 2017

Very tough watch Coronation Street this week, superbly acted by @msm4rsh @simongregson123 Breaking my heart all over again. Follow @SandsUK

— Damien Morley (@damienmorley) January 13, 2017

rarely ever watch coronation street but my heart is shattering seeing Michelle cry right now

— tanya louise (@tatianalexandre) January 13, 2017

Powerful, heartbreaking and incredibly raw scenes tonight. I think surely every single viewer felt Michelle's pain. @msm4rsh @itvcorrie

— Laura Lou (@LauraLovatic) January 13, 2017

Kym marsh is amazing @msm4rsh @itvcorrie ❤️?❤️

— Eleanor Harold (@elliewood1987) January 13, 2017

@itvcorrie utterly heartbreaking tonight. Well done to all involved but especially @msm4rsh. Outstanding performance. So sad

— Jennefer Brissenden (@Jennybriss) January 13, 2017

Ahhh Kim this is such heartbreaking but #coronationstreet fabulous and strong mum.. well done but sorry you went through it in life ???

— Nicola Jane (@Niknakx1) January 13, 2017

As you may be aware, Kym's son Archie Jay was stillborn and his eight anniversary takes place next month. It upset her greatly that she didn't get a birth certificate for her son and this has encouraged her to campaign so that the law changes. in conversation with The Mirror, she said:

"The fact I didn’t get a birth certificate for Archie means that when I’m gone there’s no record of him. "He won’t be on our family tree and yet I gave birth to him. We celebrate his birthday every year and let off balloons. "My daughter Polly knows she had a brother yet there is no record of his birth".

Image via Twitter: Coronation Street