PRECIOUS babies will be remembered at a special service at Ipswich Hospital this weekend.Anyone who has lost a baby of any age, or at any stage of a pregnancy, is invited to go along and remember their child.

PRECIOUS babies will be remembered at a special service at Ipswich Hospital this weekend.

Anyone who has lost a baby of any age, or at any stage of a pregnancy, is invited to go along and remember their child.

The service is the third one of its kind to be held at the hospital and staff hope people will take the opportunity to grieve and reflect in a supportive environment.

Jillian Lawrence, a midwife who is also responsible for health promotion, said that they wanted to give parents a place to air their feelings.

Services in previous years have seen parents release balloons and light candles in memory of their children.

This year parents will be given an opportunity to write a message to their child on a leaf which will be pinned to a special tree created by hospital staff.

The service will contain songs of hope and reflection, and there will be poetry readings by parents who have experienced the loss of a young child.

Mrs Lawrence said: "After the service there will be coffee and cakes which will be a time for people to chat to one another, and a chance to share experiences if they want to."

The service is open to anyone, regardless of how long ago they experienced their loss.

Mrs Lawrence said: "We have had people come along in the past who lost babies 50 years ago, and it's helped them to be able to come to terms with things.

"Anyone who feels they would benefit from coming to a service which gives them a supported space to remember in is welcome.

"The baby could have been lost under any circumstances. It is an entirely non-judgmental atmosphere."

The service has been planned to coincide with Baby Loss Awareness Week, the theme of which is 'A little life, not a little loss.'

The week began on October 9 and is organised by five charities that work in the area of pregnancy loss and child loss. It aims to raise awareness of the issues surrounding pregnancy loss and infant death, and to highlight the support available for bereaved parents. The week will also help raise funds for the participating charities.

The Remembering Precious Babies service will be held at Ipswich Hospital's chapel at 2pm on Sunday.

WEBLINK: www.babyloss.com