October is traditionally seen as Baby Loss Awareness Month, with a particular emphasis around an Awareness Week in the middle of the month with a “Wave of Light” day on October 15.
The aim of this is to remember all those who have lost a baby to stillbirth, miscarriage or infant loss following birth. It is a time where those who it has happened to aim to break the silence, say their names and talk about the babies they have lost.
It is a time to come together and raise awareness of baby loss, and to raise awareness of some of the key statistics. 1 in 4 women will lose their babies before they are born, and 1 in every 225 births ends in a stillbirth in the UK.
That’s 9 babies every day….
The “Wave of Light” day on October 15 encourages those affected by stillbirth, miscarriage or infant loss to light a candle to remember those babies who were lost and create a wave of light around the world.
Up and down the UK services will take place to remember all the babies who have been lost, and I will be attending the “Not Out Of Mind” service which will take place on Saturday 13 October, 2.30pm at St Peters Church in Worcester. Candles will be lit, poems will be read, and songs will be sung to honour them.
I never thought that I would be one of the 1 in 4 who loses their babies before they are born. I never thought that my much loved and much wanted son Francesco “Frankie” Enrico Ventura would be the 1 birth in 225 births who would be stillborn. Those are statistics that I never wanted to have applied to me, but applied they are, and I must live with being one of those statistics for the rest of my life.
I remember my son Frankie and think about him every single day, but this month, and particularly during Baby Loss Awareness Week, I will take some time to reflect and honour his memory. Look out for more posts and updates then.
