The 9 – 15 October each year marks Baby Loss Awareness Week, a week to help acknowledge the scale and impact of baby loss.

This tragedy affects 1 in 4 pregnancies in the UK. Stigma and silence often means that families feel isolated in their grief. 

For the past 3 years The Whitworth have been working in close partnership with @Sandscharity (Stillbirth & Neonatal Death Society) to develop STILL PARENTS; a series of workshops using art and art-making to explore and share experiences of baby loss.

On 24 September the STILL PARENTS exhibition opened. It is the first exhibition of its kind, creating a platform to share personal stories, open up conversations and break the wall of silence that continues to surround baby loss

To mark this year’s Baby Loss Awareness Week we will be changing our profile pictures in support as well as, each day, sharing some of the creative writing pieces and artworks from the STILL PARENTS exhibition.

Lindsey

This image is a strong woman, perhaps a mother, full of love, grief, pain. This image is me. Me holding Angus, physically holding his ashes, all that remains of the life I grew and carried. This is me, carrying my love and memories forward. With me, always with me. Locked away. Eyes closed to the rest of the world, they don’t understand. This image is lonely. I alone truly carry the memories of Angus. It is a burden, it is a blessing, it is heavy. This image is powerful, it is raw. This is me. The new me. I never thought this would be me.

Lisa

This image is powerful and majestic It is the sunset and the dusk It makes me feel happy and sad at the same time A connection to what is lost and what is missing This image makes me miss my home and miss what could have been Family time on the beach, the sound of the waves and the sunset kissing the sky The deep, deep sorrow of loss reflected in the water Memories of my own happy childhood running free on the sand, barefoot and wild Like heaven; where you exist

Katie

Grief is loneliness and sadness, wondering if the tears will ever end. Lying awake in the dark willing the light to creep in but never wanting morning to arrive. Grief takes over, taking on every ounce of my being. My life is forever split into before and after you. You gave me the strength to discover who I am. To let go of what I no longer need. Like the trees changing in autumn, losing their leaves. Grief is empowerment and finding me.

Paul M

PAIN is worse when anticipated, like through the trimesters anxiously hoping all is well. PAIN may linger but eventually it will subside. Like tired sore muscles or bones. Or the loss of loved ones. Knowing there’s nothing that can be done, Damn this PAIN am done. Not realising I had more in the tank. PAIN can be great motivation for positive change. So each time I feel pain of any sort, I am taken back to the 15th of the ninth 2019. And hold strong on to the 3hrs and 30mins of your strength of breath. PAIN can become joy even after grief of loss. Like a cloudy day that ends sunny. After it passes something better takes over, Like a rainbow.

Sarah N

I walk along this journey of grief My husband beside me, helping me through I see others in front, on their own journey But they see the world differently to me I search to find someone like me Who’s been through it all before Who knows what to do But there are no answers No right way to do this I’ve got to walk my own path Through the stormy sea Until I find peace again

STILL PARENTS: Life After Baby Loss is on display at the Whitworth until 4 September 2022.

Thank you to Friends of the Whitworth for supporting the exhibition and engagement programme.

Follow @whitworthstillparents on Instagram for more information or email lucy.turner@manchester.ac.uk