Bereaved families who have lost babies to gather for candlelight vigil

Bereaved families are to gather for a candlelight vigil in memory of lost babies.

The memorial service will take place at Hazlehead Crematorium in Aberdeen on Tuesday to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week.

It is aimed at offering grieving parents a peaceful space to reflect and remember their beloved babies.

Helen Louise Sinclair is a volunteer with neonatal death charity Aberdeen Sands.

She lost her first son George was stillborn 12 years ago.

She told STV News: “At 29 weeks and five days, I suddenly lost a lot of blood. It was a placenta abruption that I had. I knew then that he wouldn’t survive.

“I had to go to hospital, had all the scans and then they said there was no heartbeat.

“I did know, but I didn’t want to hear it.”

More than a decade on, she now helps others who have experienced a loss by volunteering as a befriender with Aberdeen Sands.

The charity has hung more than 300 wooden hearts at Aberdeen’s Hazlehead Park each holding the name of a lost child.

This week is about remembering babies lost in pregnancy, during or soon after birth.

Memorial tree for lost babies in Aberdeen STV News

Helen said: “I think it’s so important to have the hearts up again for people to see their babies’ names, have a look at the tree and read what we do on the notice.

“They can have a seat and think about all the babies, or if they know someone who has lost a baby.”

One in four pregnancies in the UK end in loss and half of adults say they, or someone they know, have experienced pregnancy or baby loss.

Abi Clarke founded the only early pregnancy loss charity in the North East of Scotland after suffering a miscarriage in 2015.

The group helps around 9,000 people aged between 17 to 85.

The mum-of-two said: “Losing a baby is horrible, no words to explain that time.

“Loss can affect any age whether it’s your sibling, your grandparent, parent or you as an individual. We’re here to support you.

“When I had my loss, when you left the hospital there was nothing there. You’re left to get on with it.

“By providing memory boxes and support packs, it gives you that sense of ‘you’re not alone.’

“Everyone differs with how they deal with grief. It’s about finding the right support for you as an individual.”

A candlelit service entitled ‘Wave of Light’ will be held at Hazlehead Crematorium on Tuesday .