Special services to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week

Baby Loss Awareness Week runs from 9 to 15 October

Grieving parents are invited to attend services to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week.

Services will take place in Hull and Scunthorpe in October.

NHS Humber Health Partnership said the services would offer families the chance to reflect.

Parents will be a given a heart to write their baby’s name on for it to be read out during each service.

Services will take place at Hull College, at 13:00 BST and 15:00 on 6 October.

A third service takes place at St Lawrence’s Church in Scunthorpe, at 16:00 on 13 October.

The services have been organised by the health partnership's pastoral and spiritual care team and the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death (Sands) charity.

The Reverend Harry Smart, from Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Trust, said: "Anyone who has been touched by the loss of a baby, at any stage of life, is welcome to attend.

“For the majority of people, the arrival of a baby is a time of great joy and celebration, but sadly this is not always the case."

He said the services would help people "find comfort and strength".

The Reverend Harry Smart and Joanne Milns say the services would offer people the chance to grieve and reflect

Joanne Milns, from the pastoral and spiritual care team at Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital, said: “No-one can truly understand the grief caused by the loss of a child until they have lived that experience.

“Our remembrance services will give local families and their loved ones the chance to grieve, to reflect and to remember."

Baby Loss Awareness Week is now in its 22nd year.

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