Baby Loss Awareness Week..

[LoopyLyndaLou]

HI,

this is becoming very big in the Uk and other countries, I am not sure if it is over here. Sadly it kind of co-incides with breast cancer awareness week (another very important cause) and as it doesn't get the media coverage it tends to get over looked. It is to raise awareness of all pregnancy loss no matter at what stage and for those babies who die soon after birth.

It would be great to get this awareness raised over here in Australia. In time we could perhaps be in the position to raise money for charities over here involved in support and research.

The actual Baby Loss Awareness Day is October the 15th. There are many memorial services, ballon releases etc carried out on this day and at 7pm they ask that the people light a candle at 7pm their time to remember their lost child. As the time zones vary it means there is figuratively a Wave of Light across the globe.

Here is a link to a uk based site

http://www.babyloss.com/

Here is a link to an American site

http://www.october15th.com/


Talking of babies that have died is such a taboo subject, I know people don't like to believe it happens as it is too distressing but it does happen and parents, like myself and my husband, deserve the right to be able to be open about our baby's existance and to raise awareness that pregnancy loss can happen at any stage and babies can die soon after birth and it is devastating for all those concerned.

Lynda xx

ps I appreciate this may be over here already but i have not heard of it being mentioned anywhere or seen any advertising but that might just be because I live in Tas - so I am sorry if I am repeating an already advertised campaign.

[Shakey]

Thanks Lynda for putting this here, I havn't seen any advertising at all of this, not even on the SANDS website, in NZ there are people gathering in all the major citys and lighting a candle then, I will be lighting my candles on the 15th for not only my boys but all the other babies lost

[*Chels*]

:kiss: :kiss: Thats so nice there is a day for the babies!
I lost my brother from SIDS when he was 11 weeks plus I know ppl who lost their babies.
I will be thinking of them all:kiss:

[Percy]

There is a memorial service being held on sunday night in queensland too.

We will be lighting our candles at 7.00pm.

Its so nice to have one special day to remember our little angels.

[cheezelkat]

I'll be lighting a candle on behalf of people I know who have lost babies.

Thankyou for bringing this to my attention. :hugs:

[cmd'smum]

Thanks for that Linda. I didn't even know that this existed! I will be lighting a candle in respect of our angel baby and for all the amazing parents that have had to suffer the loss of a baby. :hugs:

[JuniorMinime]

Thank heaps Linda,

I wonder though how we can try and get this message across so that everyone knows about it!! I might call my local radio station on that day so that others know about it.

I feel so strong about this issue cause one day they will have to find out why it happens to so many people. I know that we will be lighting three candles for the three angels that we have lost. And I will be telling my friends to do that same.

I just hope that one day this can be a national thing that everyone can be a part of as it's just as important as Breast cancer, and all the other ones.

If anyone has any ideas on how it become more popular please speak up and tell us cause I know that I will do something!!!!

[LoopyLyndaLou]

HI Becs,

I think perhaps it is a bit late this year to do much about it, I should have got my act together sooner but having relocated from the Uk this year and having to face Thomas' 4th anniversary this month I have been somewhat preoccupied. It is hard being away from my support network at this time of year!

I think perhaps over the next year talking to healthcare professionals involved in pregnancy and birth and making them aware and also ministers etc who may be prepared to organise memorial services, organising balloon releases and then a few weeks before the even contacting all forms of media and advertising is the way to go.

Ribbons are made by bereaved parents and then all collected up in one place and then distributed to anyone who is prepared to sell them. Perhaps if there is not a contact in Australia already we need to look in to establishing one. This person would be the co-oridinator and also ensure the ribons are made to the highest standard. If we are selling them then they have to be good quality.

I would happily step in to that role but until the end of the year I have no idea where we will be this time next year, at the moment we are due to return to the Uk in June next year with dh's work.

It may be worth a mention now to local radio etc, I wish I had the strength this year to do it but I find October such a hard month anyway.

I run a site for those that have lost babies in late pregnancy and soon after birth and we were only commenting on how unless we as bereaved parents stand up and let people know there is this massive issue of pregnancy and infant loss noone is going to do it for us.

Lynda x

[Rianna]

Thanks so much for bringing this to my attention. I will definitely light candles for my angel babies on the 15th. I wish this was more recognised.

[JuniorMinime]

I think that's a great idea Linda. If you want I would be more than happy to help you out with it all as well.

I think the ribbon idea is perfect, if you want to pm me I would be happy to give you my phone number so we can try and organise something. I think that it's very very important that we do something.

Now that I have lost three in the last 12 months is hard. I am coming up to Angel Ethans 1st Anniversary so I am not sure how I will be either but you have me if you want an ear, shoulder or cyber :hugs:

Anyway I look forward to hearing from you as I would love to try and get things rolling for next year.

Becs

[muls]

Hi,

I think this is a beautiful idea. The day after I found out we had m/c I wondered whether there was such a day. I will be lighting a candle for my angel. A day like this makes things easier to express because you know there are other people like you celebrating the joy the news of their new angel brought them and the sadness when their angel was taken away.
I was also wondering if there are any other charities for m/c research that can be collected all year round, because I would love to raise some money for such an important cause.

Mand

[Adria]

wow, i didn't know a day exsisted!.....
I will be lighting a candle for my one and in respect for all of the other little ones who never made it here.

A suggestion in raising funds, would be to sell candles.

[JuniorMinime]

That's a good idea, but just a quick question (probably a blonde one) where would we send the money oncewe sold the candles?

Is there an organisation for this?

Becs

[farmmummy]

Lynda

this is a very tough subject for me at the moment as this Saturday would have made my son 4 weeks old instead of me celebrating this I am organising his funeral on the 26th of November. I will still light a candle on Sunday for my son and others who have lost as well.