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“Taking the steps our babies couldn’t”: Bunbury to walk to remember stillbirths, miscarriages & newborn deaths

Ailish DelaneySouth Western Times
Last year's Walk to Remember event.
Camera IconLast year's Walk to Remember event. Credit: My Little Luv / Facebook

Miscarriage and stillbirth are taboo topics to talk about in the community, but Bunbury residents are hoping to change that by hosting a commemoration event this weekend.

Support group Sands is hosting Walk to Remember events across the country and volunteer Heidi Welsh is using her trauma to help others by holding a Bunbury event on Sunday.

Mrs Welsh said she became involved in Sands after losing her daughter Ellie, who was stillborn at full-term, in 2017.

“Following that I tried to find services, but there’s not much in Bunbury,” she said.

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“The important thing for me was when I found support from other parents who experienced the same, it was a very healing thing.”

Bubble blowing at last year’s event.
Camera IconBubble blowing at last year’s event. Credit: My Little Luv / Facebook

She started her own community page after realising there was a lack of support in the South West and found it helped her connect with others who went through similar experiences.

“It’s seen as a taboo topic and people don’t like to talk or think about it — it’s not something you easily have conversations about,” Mrs Welsh said.

“This is a good way to educate people that it’s important to talk about and if we avoid those topics it just extends the pain.”

Mrs Welsh wants others to know they are not alone and to come together and acknowledge the loss of their babies.

“It’s an opportunity to do something good from a tragic experience and get chance to remember and acknowledge my daughter who was here,” she said.

“You look at the world differently after that... you never forget, they’re still a part of your life and family.”

The Walk to Remember will take place at Big Swamp Parkland from 10am and include activities including decorating butterflies with their babies’ names and bubble blowing.

Saint John of God Bunbury is hosting a chapel service tomorrow in recognition of Baby Loss Awareness Week and the International Wave of Light, for which candles are lit to honour babies who died during pregnancy or shortly after birth across the world.

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