Baby Loss Awareness Week

Keeping memories alive

Nothing can prepare a family for the pain that comes when they lose their precious child or pregnancy to illness, accident, stillbirth or cot death. But one small consolation is the fact that they know they are not alone. Other parents, grandparents and families have been through it too and the annual Baby Loss Awareness week brings these families together to share their grief and to be supported by one another - all while raising awareness for what is often a hidden bereavement.

Not only is this an awful situation for parents, but this is all too often a hidden loss. This is particularly the case if the baby has died before birth. Additionally, people still are careful not to mention the child, making it harder for the family to share their grief and to talk - something we all know helps during bereavements.

Between the 9th and 15th of October 2017, parents can have an opportunity to raise the profile of these issues through the Baby Loss Awareness week which culminates in a special day on the 15th. Parents and families across the world are asked to join each other in a Wave of Light from 7pm on that day. This simple but powerful event brings together the UK awareness day with the International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.

Participants in the Wave of Light are asked to simply take a photo of a candle and post it to their social media using the hashtag #waveoflight at 7pm on the day. These photos will remind others of the losses that are so often never mentioned and will promote the issue. Supporters can also purchase a pin that they can wear throughout the week.

As producers of remembrance photo frames, we are especially supportive of this event and recognise the importance of a photo to preserve memories and to offer a powerful image that is emotive and important. While it is not something we ever want to do, we know that offering parents a way to capture their child in photographic form forever can help in the grieving process and we are humbled to be a small part in that.

Now we have another opportunity - to provide the right frame for your Wave of Light photo. A simple candle that says so much and spreads the word about child loss worldwide.