Bereaved parents in the Vale mark Baby loss Awareness Week

The awareness week started on Wednesday, October 9, and runs to October 15,  and is dedicated to remembering babies and lost pregnancies, raise awareness, and support those affected.

The ribbon display has been carried out by members of the Cardiff and Newport SANDS group. SANDS stands for Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society and provides support for bereaved parents.Ribbons for baby loss awareness week (Image: NQ) Amy Rees volunteers for SANDS. She said: “So I chose Barry Island as it's local to me and also it's a beautiful setting for all the beautiful babies we will be honouring.”

The money raised from the ribbon display will go towards updating the bereavement suite in the Grange hospital. There are 59 ribbons, and the amount raised currently is £110.

Ribbons for baby loss awareness week (Image: NQ) Amy explained the importance of a bereavement suite: “It provides that little bit of comfort at a really awful time in your life, and you get to make memories albeit the ones you wouldn’t have wanted.”

Amy supports the cause because she has experienced the loss of a child.

 “I’m happy to talk about loss of my daughter Amelie. Our loss was five years ago nearly 6 now and it’s still a bit of a blur.”

“I had a lot of help from SANDS, and a really good bereavement midwife. We still actually don’t know what happened and I still get my bad days especially around her birthday.

“We celebrate her birthday each year now I’ve got two sons who blow the candles out for her they know who she is, and that they’ve got a sister in the stars. We grieved differently, I wanted to talk and Tom’s not a talker.”Parents Amy Rees and Tom Freese (Image: NQ) In 2022 in Wales there was a total of 102 infant deaths and an infant mortality rate of 3.6 deaths per 1,000 live births.

Amy offered the following advice to bereaved parents.

“Reach out for SANDS even in the early days I know it’s hard, but just so you know everything available to you," he said.

“Be kind to yourself do what you need to do to get through everybody’s different.”

In honour of Baby loss Awareness Week, the theme ‘#WaveOfLight’ will be used to unite with bereaved families across the world.

Parents are encouraged to light a candle at 7pm on 15 October in memory of every baby who has died.

A local wave light light event will be taking place in Thornhill Crematorium Cardiff October 15 at 18:45pm.

An event marking the week in Callaghan’s Cardiff, will also be taking place to recognise 18 years of SANDS and help with proceeds towards the Grange.