West Suffolk Sands honours ‘precious babies’ as ribbons placed around the Norman Tower, in Bury St Edmunds, marking Baby Loss Awareness Week
A ribbon display has been unveiled at a Suffolk landmark to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week (BLAW).
Ribbons have been placed at the Norman Tower and Nowton Park, in Bury St Edmunds, and West Suffolk Crematorium, in nearby Risby, to remember babies.
The displays have been created ahead of Wave of Light events on Tuesday, October 15.
West Suffolk Sands unveiled the ribbons, which include the names of babies, as it supports bereaved families throughout BLAW, which started yesterday, Wednesday, October 9.
Isobel Ewing, a befriender from the charity, said: “We are so privileged to hold ribbon displays for BLAW.
“It means a lot for the bereaved parents to have somewhere they can go and see their baby’s name. Sadly, not all have graves to visit and remember their babies.
“It’s also amazing how much awareness the ribbon displays raises to the wider community.
“Many people don’t realise how many babies are lost, whether from stillbirth or soon after birth, terminated for medical reasons or from miscarriage.”
Parents’ stories
Walt Christoper Jackson, born still at 36 weeks, in July 2019.
“BLAW along with the ribbon display at the Norman Tower are a really important time for my family.
“Most people are unable to fully understand the impact of baby loss on one’s life and the fact that others are supporting the cause means a lot to the baby loss community.
“When your baby passes away you are unable to provide for them, nurture and care for them in the way you can do for you living children.
“Being able to ‘do’ something tangible is special for me because they are the only things I am able to do.
“It allows me the time and space to dedicate to my son who isn’t here with us.”
The above is written by Walt’s parents Jess and Chris.
Noah’s parents, Chloe and Freddie said: “BLAW is such an important time as it creates a wonderful opportunity to honour our precious babies, including our son, Noah, and it’s also an opportunity to raise awareness of baby loss and the impact this has on families.
“It is really wonderful to have a local ribbon display and it is always so special to see our baby’s name written down. It is lovely to be able to visit the display and see a visual representation of all the much-loved and missed babies, we know that we are not alone.
Parents Tim and Hollie said: “BLAW brings a mixture of emotions in one way it's good due to the fact we see our boys names but it also highlights the fact we haven't got our boys with us"
West Suffolk Sands
The charity holds monthly support groups for bereaved parents and for families with older siblings and rainbow babies.
West Suffolk Sands also supports grandparents, grieving the loss of a grandchild but also wanting to be there for their own children.
Details of the ribbon displays and Wave of Light events at the Norman Tower and crematorium, can be found on the West Suffolk Sands Facebook page.
Anyone who needs to contact the charity can email: westsuffolk@sandsvolunteer.org.uk
