General News
13 October, 2024
West Wimmera groups to mark Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day
Tuesday, October 15 is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.
Tuesday, October 15 is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day and West Wimmera Shire Council, Grampians Health and Be Your Best Counselling will come together to remember and honour babies who died during pregnancy and infancy.
In October WWSC's Perinatal Emotional Health Practitioner Adrienne Caldow will host 'Wave of Light' ceremonies, in Edenhope and Kaniva, inviting community members to light a candle in memory of a loved one.
"I'd say nearly all of us have been affected by the loss of a baby, because miscarriage still happens in 1 out of 4 pregnancies," Ms Caldow said.
"This day covers so many kinds of loss, from miscarriages and terminations for medical reasons, to stillbirth and accidental death.
"Every loss is valid and it's so common, but not often spoken about.
"We want to give people the space to grieve and remember and reflect."
Ms Caldow's Wave of Light candlelight vigils will take place on Monday, October 28 at 7pm, at the Kaniva Shire Hall, and on Tuesday, October 29 at 7pm, at the Edenhope Community Centre.
Should people wish to mark the occasion in private, free candles can be collected from Council offices, in Kaniva and Edenhope, from October 15.
The Lake Wallace parkrun in Edenhope will also mark the occasion with a pre-event presentation by Ms Caldow.
Volunteers and participants are invited to wear purple, to signal their support.
Grampians Health Rural Outreach worker Murray McInnes said silent grieving was "far more common in this community than anyone would expect".
"There are legal definitions and processes, which sometimes means a baby's death is not legitamised enough," he said.
"No matter how many weeks a baby is, the emotional toll can extend on forever.
"Realistically, people are dealing with trauma and grief all at the same time and, often, they need support through that."
Mr McInnes said families dealt with grief differently, but all reactions were valid.
"Often young men will respond with anger and they can feel really helpless.
"Awareness is important for men, because they can be really affected and don't necessarily deal with it well, or get the support they need."
Qualified counsellor Carine Bezuidenhout hopes the ceremonies will draw community members together.
"It can be very powerful to realise you're not alone in your grief, that others have some understanding," she said.
"For many babies there is no gravesite or funeral service and that can impact the grieving process.
"This will be our collective service, to honour all of our precious little ones."
Ms Caldow, Mr McInnes and Ms Bezuidenhout have all been affected by the loss of a baby and hope, by speaking up, they hope others can feel comfortable seeking support.
"The more we talk about it, as a community, the more people will feel like they too can speak about it," Ms Bezuidenhout said. "This is not something we should be silent about."