05/10/2023
We are supporting Baby Loss Awareness Week (9-15 October 2023) by holding a Service of Thanksgiving and Acknowledgment for our babies and children hosted jointly by the Maternity and Neonatal teams.
The Service will be held on Sunday 8th October 2023 at 3pm in the Lecture Theatre, 2nd Floor, South West Acute Hospital, Enniskillen with refreshments provided. To ensure we have adequate space we are asking people to please register their attendance via Eventbrite.
There will also be an event held at the Guildhall, Derry/Londonderry on Sunday 15th October 2023 at 4:30pm – click here to register for the Guildhall event.
Speaking about Baby Loss Awareness Week Melissa Crockett, Western Trust Childbirth and Pregnancy Loss Specialist Midwife said:
“Baby Loss Awareness Week is an opportunity for parents and families to remember and commemorate their precious babies who have died, knowing that many other bereaved parents are experiencing similar emotions.
“Losing a baby, at any gestation, is surrounded with untold heartbreak and can be a very distressing experience. The kind of care that women or couples receive from their hospital, GP or Midwife can make a real difference to how they cope with the experience of pregnancy loss. With the development of specially designed Bereavement suites in both hospitals, the Western Trust has taken steps in order to continue improve the care given to bereaved families in our hospitals.
“It is not only a vital part of the grieving process for these parents but this week can be used to highlight pertinent concerns surrounding pregnancy loss and reiterate to the wider community the ongoing improvements being made in bereavement support with the continuation and development of my role as Childbirth and Pregnancy Loss Midwife. One element of this role will be to bridge the gap between bereaved families and hospital staff following the loss of a baby and to assist in providing immediate and also long term sensitive care and support to all involved.”
Baby Loss Awareness Week culminates on October 15th which is known as International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance day and is recognised across the world.
To celebrate this you can join with other families across the world in the global ‘Wave of light’. Simply light a candle at 7pm local time and leave it burning for at least 1 hour to join in remembering all babies that have gone too soon.
You can also join the virtual Wave of Light at 7pm local time on 15th October 2023. To get involved take a photo of your candle and post it to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram using #WaveOfLight
Wherever you light your candle, you will be joining a global ‘Wave of Light’ in memory of all the babies who lit up our lives for such a short time.
For information on the support available for you or someone you know, visit www.sandsni.org