Redbedhead*
HPAD 04/03/09 Why 17?
Today 17 babies will die, the tragic victims of stillbirth or neonatal death. This is a statistic that is seeing no signs of decreasing, and behind each number is a family rocked to the foundations by the death of their baby.
This shocking figure, the loss of 6,500 babies every year, is something the public is not generally aware of. Most people think stillbirths don’t happen in the 21st century. Yet stillbirth in the UK is 10 times more common than cot death.
At Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, we feel this number of deaths is totally unacceptable. We have launched the Why17? campaign to raise awareness of this devastating loss and to ask the question:
“Why are 17 babies a day dying and what can be done to halt this national tragedy?”
1) Follow this link, fill in your details to email your MP to make them aware of the parliamentary launch of Why17? on March 4th 2009: www.why17.org/Get-Involved/Contact-your-MP.html
2) Add your name to the list of supporters (petition) : www.why17.org/Pledge-Your-Support.html
3) Make a contribution: donate online; buy a window sticker / wristband / balloon; or plan a sponsored event. More ideas here: www.why17.org/Get-Involved.html
On a personal note, this is my daughter Grace. She was born 5 weeks premature weighing 4lb 7oz. She hadn't developed a suck reflex yet so was tube fed and stayed in the special care baby unit for 11 days. I was discharged from hospital the day before mothers day 2008 and had to leave her there. It was the most heart wrenching thing I have ever done.
Yet it is nothing to the parents whose babies are still born so I thank my lucky stars every day that she was with us and growing stronger.
HPAD 04/03/09 Why 17?
Today 17 babies will die, the tragic victims of stillbirth or neonatal death. This is a statistic that is seeing no signs of decreasing, and behind each number is a family rocked to the foundations by the death of their baby.
This shocking figure, the loss of 6,500 babies every year, is something the public is not generally aware of. Most people think stillbirths don’t happen in the 21st century. Yet stillbirth in the UK is 10 times more common than cot death.
At Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, we feel this number of deaths is totally unacceptable. We have launched the Why17? campaign to raise awareness of this devastating loss and to ask the question:
“Why are 17 babies a day dying and what can be done to halt this national tragedy?”
1) Follow this link, fill in your details to email your MP to make them aware of the parliamentary launch of Why17? on March 4th 2009: www.why17.org/Get-Involved/Contact-your-MP.html
2) Add your name to the list of supporters (petition) : www.why17.org/Pledge-Your-Support.html
3) Make a contribution: donate online; buy a window sticker / wristband / balloon; or plan a sponsored event. More ideas here: www.why17.org/Get-Involved.html
On a personal note, this is my daughter Grace. She was born 5 weeks premature weighing 4lb 7oz. She hadn't developed a suck reflex yet so was tube fed and stayed in the special care baby unit for 11 days. I was discharged from hospital the day before mothers day 2008 and had to leave her there. It was the most heart wrenching thing I have ever done.
Yet it is nothing to the parents whose babies are still born so I thank my lucky stars every day that she was with us and growing stronger.