Ribbon display held in Falmouth to raise awareness of baby loss
Kayleigh Stangroom in Falmouth has shared her story of the heartbreak of losing a baby
Last updated 10th Oct 2023
A woman from Cornwall is shining a light on the hidden heartbreak of baby loss.
New research conducted by more than 130 charities found more than half of UK adults have been affected by baby loss.
Kayleigh Stangroom is the Store Manager of Reiker in Falmouth, where they're putting on a ribbon display for other mums and people affected can put a ribbon up in memory.
She told us: "Having lost a child myself I understand the pain and grief. It's all very painful and uncomfortable in lots of different ways.
"By having a ribbon display, it allows people who have lost to know they're not forgotten. There babies have not been forgotten.
"People who don't know how to say something, this is their way of saying we're thinking of you, we love you, and we're always going to remember you whatever happens."
Listen: Mums share their stories of baby loss for Baby Loss Awareness Week
Kayleigh's story
According to new research, more than 70% of people in the UK who suffer from baby loss are left with a feeling of failure and guilt.
Kayleigh tells us she had to end her pregnancy for health reasons and tells us it took a long time to come to terms with her loss. She says she wants to remove the stigma:
"Having to end the pregnancy for health reasons, it's a decision that no Mum and Dad ever wants to make.
"Feel totally empty inside"
"We have this narrative that it's really easy to get pregnant and that it's amazing. That's so far from what the truth actually is.
"I had literally no idea how to even express. You can't say actually I feel totally empty inside and ripped to pieces but that's genuinely how I felt."
The ribbon display in Falmouth starts on the Monday 9 October and ends on the Sunday 15 October. Parents will be able to collect Ribbons from the store, write their babies name on the back then add it to the display. There will also be an opportunity to donate to SANDS who deliver life-saving research to save babies lives.
Kayleigh said she had a lot of support from the charity:
"For me, it was such a light to have been connected with SANDS because they understand it. They deal with parents who have been through this day in, day out. It helps the whole pain feel lighter.
"It meant a lot, not only to help me process and accept my feelings and my partners feelings but also helped with friends and families to know what to say."
You can register a ribbon for the Falmouth display here.)