Baby Loss Awareness Week – 9th October to 15th October 2016

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Sands celebrates 30 years supporting bereaved parents in New Zealand during Baby Loss Awareness Week

Baby Loss Awareness Week – 9th October to 15th October 2016

Bereaved parents across New Zealand are holding regional events to recognise loss and remember babies as part of Baby Loss Awareness Week 2016.

Sands is the leading organisation in New Zealand supporting bereaved parents after the death of a baby, providing vital peer to peer support through a network of parent-run, non-profit local groups.

Sands board member Jackie Plimmer said: ‘For every family, there is a lifetime of remembering ahead. For too many, the loss of a baby is endured in silent agony. Baby Loss Awareness Week offers families an opportunity to publicly acknowledge the babies that they so desperately miss. Understanding of baby loss has improved in the last 30 years, with a big contribution to that from Sands, but there is still so much more to do to ensure bereaved parents receive the support they need.’

Many Kiwis are unaware that our perinatal and infant mortality rate is so high, yet so many people are affected by the tragedy of baby loss.

The latest data from the Health Quality and Safety Commission reveals that in 2014 there were 11.2 perinatal death per 1000 births in New Zealand. This is equivalent to one baby dying in pregnancy, labour or during the first 28 days of life for every 100 babies born. This rate has not changed since 2007. Sadly, 13 per cent of those perinatal deaths have been identified as avoidable.

This year Sands marks 30 years in New Zealand, with hundreds of volunteers giving their time for free over the years to support bereaved parents like them.

The charity was started by Rosemary Williams when she lost her precious daughter Holly.

Rosemary said: ‘On February 18th 1986 my beautiful baby daughter Holly was stillborn. It was like nobody had ever had this happen to them before. I found that there was no support or information on having a stillborn baby. Some of the practices were appalling such as the baby being given to me in a paper shawl, not unlike the paper towels that are found in public toilets.’

Rosemary formed the first Sands group in New Plymouth. 20 couples came along to the first meeting. She produced a leaflet for bereaved parents that was distributed to hospitals and all over New Zealand.

Rosemary added: ‘I am so honoured and thankful that so many wonderful people have continued the work and also made a difference.’

Baby Loss Awareness Week is a worldwide movement to provide support, education and awareness of those who are suffering, or may know of someone, who has suffered a miscarriage, stillbirth, or loss of an infant.

The week culminates in International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day on October 15th, with a Global Wave of Light as people around the world light a candle to honour the lives of babies and infants that have passed away.

Ends

NOTES

http://sands.org.nz

https://www.facebook.com/SandsNewZealand/

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