Local ‘Sands’ supporter Beth O’Brien, will be giving bereaved families in Sutton, Norfolk the opportunity to come together this Baby Loss Awareness Week, 9-15th October. 

Baby Loss Awareness Week is led by Sands, a charity that works to save babies’ lives and support bereaved families. The Week is a time for everyone in the baby loss community and beyond to come together, to remember much-loved and missed babies, and raise awareness of pregnancy and baby loss. And to honour my baby boy, Huxley, who passed at 33 days from sids two and a half years ago.

This special week is represented by its blue and pink ribbon logo. This image has been the inspiration to create Ribbon Displays up and down the UK, in every community, inviting those who have experienced loss to come together and remember their babies. 

Blue, pink and white ribbons displaying the names of the babies being remembered will be added to the Sutton Pond, (next to the Sutton Village Sign) for all to see from the 9th October and will remain in place till the 15th.

People are being asked to get involved by adding a ribbon and donating: https://gofund.me/3cd91497a

BethO’Brien, volunteer coordinating the display, said: “During Baby Loss Awareness Week, I wanted to create a special display to remember all the babies lost, whether recently or long ago. I hope it starts conversations.

“Grief, I’ve learned, is really just love. It’s all the love you want to give, but cannot. All that unspent love gathers up in the corners of your eyes, the lump in your throat, and in that hollow part of your chest. Grief is just love with no place to go .I want to spread awareness of baby loss and to encourage people to talk about the precious babies that are listed, say their name and talk about memories, keep their existence alive.

“Sadly, pregnancy and baby loss affects families across the UK every day and they may feel they are alone in their grief. I hope the display raises awareness and breaks the silence surrounding pregnancy and baby loss, it is impacting so many people in our local community. 

“All money raised from the display will go to Sands, so they can continue to support families and reduce baby deaths, by investing in research and championing better maternity care.”

More information about the display can be found on the display’s Facebook event https://www.facebook.com/share/165bi8vrGY/

For anyone who needs the support of Sands you can find more information on their website www.sands.org.uk