A Macclesfield mum is organising a space for people to reflect this Baby Loss Awareness Week.

Louise Bullock, local supporter of the charity Sands, will be giving bereaved families in Macclesfield the opportunity to come together this Baby Loss Awareness Week.

The annual national event takes place between October 9 and October 15.

Sands, the charity that leads Baby Loss Awareness Week, works to save babies' lives and support bereaved families. The Week is a time for everyone in the baby loss community and beyond to come together, to remember much-loved and missed babies, and raise awareness of pregnancy and baby loss.

Sands has been supporting families after the death of a baby since the 1970s. (Image - Sands)

This special week is represented by its blue and pink ribbon logo, this image has been the inspiration to create Ribbon Displays up and down the UK, in every community, inviting those who have experienced loss to come together and remember their babies.  

Ribbons displaying the names of the those babies being remembered will be added to the fence to the right of the entrance gates to Macclesfield's St Michael's Church on Market Place, for all to see from the 9th October and will remain in place till the 15th. 

The church goes above and beyond for the community and charities, so it was a no-brainer to show their support for Baby Loss Awareness Week.

"We invite bereaved families to bring a ribbon of any colour from home or collect a ribbon from inside the church, write your baby's name and add this to our display," said Louise.

From a lock of hair to teddy bears, a Sands memory box can help grieving families through losing a baby. (Image - @SandsUK)

"This can be done at any point during the week.

"If you would like to add a ribbon to the display but are unable to do so in person, please message me directly and I can arrange for your loved ones name to be added to a ribbon and included."

The Macclesfield Ribbon Display would not be possible without the support of St Michaels Church for allowing us to hold our display on their grounds, the generous donations of ribbons & materials from Crafty Corner, Gift Porium Boutique, Combat Revival Clinic & North & Flower, & the support of both Macclesfield Maternity Voices Partnership & Present Ascent's Lucy Biggs.

Macclesfield businesses - like Crafty Corner on Mill Street - have come together to donate materials and cash to help make the display possible.

According to Sands, every day in the UK, 13 babies are stillborn or die shortly after birth. The overall percentage of preterm live births in England and Wales was 7.6% in 2021.

Louise Bullock, volunteer coordinating the display, added: "The loss of a baby or pregnancy is heart-breaking, and this is happening to families across the UK everyday. During Baby Loss Awareness Week, I wanted to create a special display to remember all the babies lost, whether recently or long ago.  

"I hope the display raises awareness and breaks the silence surrounding baby and pregnancy loss, it is impacting so many people in our community, I hope it starts conversations. 

"All money raised from the display will go to Sands, so they can continue to support families and reduce baby deaths, by investing in research and championing better maternity care."

The event comes just days after St. Michael's Church got their clock hands back. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

The week also provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the impact of pregnancy and baby loss; the importance that bereavement support plays in the ongoing bereavement journey; and of the vital work that is needed to improve pregnancy outcomes and to save babies' lives. 

More information about the Macclesfield display can be found on the display's Facebook event. You can also click HERE to follow

If you can't make the event in-person, and don't have a ribbon to contribute but wish to donate, you can do so HERE.

See Also: Macclesfield willwriter fundraising for East Cheshire Hospice all October

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