Breaking the silence during Baby Loss Awareness Week

Three years ago, Lawley resident Nina reached out to BVT to ask if we could mark the week within our community. Her request sparked something very special, and we’re incredibly grateful she took that first step.

Three years on, Nina has joined our resident-led management committee, and we caught up with her to talk about her personal experience of baby loss, why it’s so important to remember and how community can help bereaved families feel less alone.

Nina shares her heartfelt story below; the special ways her family keeps their babies’ memories alive and the message she hopes everyone takes away from Baby Loss Awareness Week.

Baby Loss Awareness Week is a time to remember babies who are no longer with us, to acknowledge the grief of families who have experienced loss and, most importantly, to break the silence that can surround baby loss.

For Nina and her family, this week has a deeply personal meaning. After losing her son Michael at 39 weeks pregnant, followed by an early miscarriage the following year, she has found comfort, strength and friendship through the baby loss community.

She has also helped bring local people together in Lawley to remember their babies and recently joined the Lawley Management Committee (LMC) to give something back to the community that has supported her.

“Michael’s life mattered, he is loved and he will always be part of our family.”

Baby Loss Awareness Week is particularly important to her because she knows first-hand how difficult and isolating baby loss can be.

“There is still so much silence surrounding baby loss, and that silence can leave bereaved parents and families feeling incredibly alone at a time when they need to feel surrounded by love, understanding and support,” she says.

“For me, one of the most important things is simply hearing my baby’s name. Michael’s life mattered, he is loved and he will always be part of our family. Being able to say his name, talk about him and have others remember him means more than people may realise.”

She hopes that by talking openly about baby loss, other bereaved parents will feel less alone and know that they do not have to hide their grief or their babies.

“Our babies deserve to be remembered, loved and spoken about – not forgotten.”

A journey she never expected to take

In August 2023, Nina lost her beautiful little boy, Michael. He, was her second child, and his older brother Jasper was excitedly looking forward to becoming a big brother. Sadly, at 39 weeks pregnant, she suffered a placental abruption.

Michael was born and the family was blessed with five precious days with him before he gained his angel wings on his due date.

“Those five days gave us memories that I will treasure for the rest of my life, but saying goodbye to our beautiful boy was the hardest thing we have ever had to face,” she says.

“Life changed forever that day, and we became an angel family.”

A year later, in August 2024, the family experienced another loss when she suffered an early miscarriage with their little rainbow baby.

“Those were two very different experiences of baby loss, but both were equally heartbreaking in their own way.”

Then, in September 2025, the family welcomed their beautiful daughter, Ginnie.
“She has brought so much love and happiness into our family, and we feel incredibly lucky to have her.”

But having Ginnie did not change the loss of Michael or their rainbow baby.

“They will always have their own special place within our family. I carry all four of my babies in my heart every single day, and I am incredibly proud to be their mum.”

Keeping memories alive

For the family, remembering Michael and their rainbow baby has become part of everyday life.
They planted a crab-apple tree in their garden for Michael and, each year after his birthday, pick the apples and make Michael and Jasper’s crab-apple jelly to share with family.

It has become a special family tradition – a simple way of remembering Michael and including him in family life.

She also lights a special candle for her babies, particularly on birthdays, anniversaries and other important occasions.

And they look for the brightest stars in the sky and wave to their angels. For Jasper, who was just five when he lost his brother, this became a particularly meaningful way to remember Michael.

“It gave him a way to connect with and remember his brother. It helped us talk about Michael and made his presence feel like a natural part of our family, even though he wasn’t physically with us.”
The family also notices robins and feathers wherever they go.

“Everyone has their own beliefs about these things, but for us they have become comforting reminders of our babies and the love we will always carry for them.”

“Grief doesn’t have an expiry date”

One of the things she wishes people understood about baby loss is that it changes you forever.
“It isn’t something you simply ‘get over’ or move on from. Your whole world changes, and you must learn how to live with a loss that you never imagined you would have to face.”

She says parents remain parents, even when their baby is no longer physically here.

“You are still a mum, a dad and a family to that baby. Your baby mattered, their life mattered, and they will always be a part of your family.”

Grief can also look different from one day to the next.

“You can laugh, smile and have happy days, but that doesn’t mean you have forgotten your baby or that you no longer grieve for them. You simply learn to carry your grief alongside you.”

For her, that means continuing to talk about Michael and her rainbow baby, celebrating their birthdays, remembering special dates and creating traditions that keep them included in family life.

“All we really want is for our babies to be remembered, spoken about and loved – because they will always be our babies, and we will always be their parents.”

Finding strength in the community

Community has played an incredibly important role in her own journey. After losing Michael, she connected with another local resident Sam through the Lawley Facebook page. They found common ground through the stories of their babies, and Sam became the first angel mum she had ever met.

“She gave me so much strength, support and courage to keep going. Seeing how she has learnt to live with the loss of her beautiful baby Quinn helped me realise that, although the grief never truly goes away, it is possible to find a way to carry it and continue living while keeping your baby’s memory and love with you.”

That connection showed her just how important it can be to find other people who understand.
“One of the hardest things after losing a baby can be feeling like you are completely alone. Connecting with other bereaved parents makes you realise that, sadly, you’re not.”

“We become part of a community that none of us ever asked to belong to, but one that can come to mean so much to us.”

It was this belief in the importance of community that encouraged her to reach out to BVT and help create a local remembrance event.

Her first Baby Loss Awareness Week in October 2023 was a real eye-opener.

“Before losing Michael and our little rainbow, it wasn’t something I had ever heard of or really knew anything about. Suddenly, I found myself part of a community and a week that I never knew existed, but that meant so much to me.”

When she contacted Lin, Community Development & Partnership Officer from BVT, she says she was met with kindness and understanding, and together they helped create a much-needed remembrance event for the local community.

“It gave us somewhere to come together, remember our babies and feel supported by people who truly understood.”

A message to anyone experiencing baby loss

For anyone who has recently experienced baby loss and feels that they are grieving alone, her message is simple:

“You are never truly alone.

“I know that at times it can feel like you are completely alone in your grief, but there are people who understand, people who will listen and people who will walk alongside you.

“Please don’t be afraid to reach out, to talk about your baby, to say their name and to ask for support when you need it. Your baby will always be part of you, and their memory deserves to be kept alive.”

She believes that talking, sharing and remembering can help bereaved parents find a way through the darkest days, while continuing to carry their babies in their hearts.

Giving something back to the Lawley community
Her experience of bringing people together through Baby Loss Awareness Week also inspired her to join the Lawley Management Committee.

Having already seen the work BVT does in the community, she wanted to give something back and use her own experiences to help represent other families and residents in Lawley.

“I’ve always felt that my voice and experiences were valued. As a member of the local community, I wanted to give something back and hopefully use my own experiences to help represent other families and residents living in Lawley.”

She believes resident committees are important because they give local people a voice and an opportunity to help shape the place they call home.

“For me, it’s about being part of something positive, supporting other residents and helping to continue making Lawley a lovely, welcoming and friendly place to live. I’m really proud to be able to play a small part in that.”

Breaking the silence

If there is one message, she hopes people take away from Baby Loss Awareness Week, it is this:

“Let’s break the silence surrounding baby loss.

“No parent should have to feel alone in their grief or feel that they can’t talk about their baby. By speaking openly, listening without judgement and being there for bereaved families, we can help those experiencing baby loss feel surrounded by love, understanding and support.

“Let’s remember that behind every loss is a much-loved baby and a family whose lives have been changed forever. Let’s say their names, share their stories and keep their memories alive.

“And most importantly, let’s remember all of our angels.”

For her, that means remembering Michael, her rainbow baby and all the babies who are loved and missed by families in our community.

“You are never, ever alone.”

For this year’s Baby Loss Awareness Week, BVT have organised the following:

Memorial Service – Saturday 10 October, 10am. Join us by the Willow Crown at Lawley Community Garden, off Lawley Drive, for a special memorial service. There will also be an opportunity to hang a ribbon on our Wishing Line in memory of someone special.

Refreshments & Crafts – 11am
Following the service, you’re invited to join us at Lawley Community Hub for refreshments and a craft session. You’ll be able to create something special in memory of your loved one, including a free keyring and suncatcher to take home.
Everyone is welcome.

We would like to thank Nina for sharing her personal story