Remembrance services will also be held
Hull Women and Children’s Hospital(Image: Humber Health Partnership)
Bereaved families are being invited to add their baby’s name to a special Memory Tree as part of Baby Loss Awareness Week. The Bereavement Team at Hull Women and Children’s Hospital are holding a series of events to mark the special week, which runs from October 9 to 15.
Families who have lost babies either during pregnancy or shortly after birth can come to the hospital throughout the week and add their baby’s name to a forget-me-not flower, which will then be added to the Memory Tree as part of a special memorial display in the entrance foyer. The hospital will also be lit up with pink and blue lights throughout the week as a gesture of support to families whose babies have died.
A special Baby Remembrance Service will also take place on Sunday, October 11, at 2pm at Jubilee Church in King Edward Street, Hull. The non-religious service is a time for reflection and parents will be invited to light a candle and to share their baby’s name so it can be read out and remembered during the service.
Jo Milns, Specialist Paediatric Chaplain at Humber Health Partnership, said: “The loss of a baby is something that families carry with them throughout their lives, and for many, having an opportunity to remember their baby alongside others who understand that loss is incredibly important. Our remembrance service creates a space where every baby is acknowledged and honoured.
“Reading names aloud, lighting candles, sharing music, poetry and reflection are simple but deeply meaningful acts that recognise the love families have for their children. One of the most moving moments is the reading of Guess How Much I Love You, a book that many families will recognise from the memory boxes they receive.
“It reminds us that the bond between parent and child endures, regardless of how brief that child’s life may have been. Whether a family’s loss was recent or many years ago, they are warmly welcome to join us.
“Above all, this service is about ensuring families know that their baby matters, their baby is remembered, and they are not alone.” This year’s event marks the fourth service for local families and is for anyone who has experienced the loss of a baby, regardless of how long ago this occurred.
Baby remembrance services will be taking place in Scunthorpe on Saturday, October 17, from 2pm, at St Lawrence’s Church, Church Lane, and in Grimsby on Sunday, October 18, from 2pm, at City Church, Chelmsford Avenue. There is no need to book a place and all family members are welcome.
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