Poignant memories at castle

More than a thousand balloons were released to mark Babyloss Awareness Week 2010 and in memory of babies lost during pregnancy or early in life.

Hundreds of people attended, including many bereaved families who were able to remember the babies they had lost by writing a message on a balloon tag.

A number of local politicians were also in attendance, showing their support for bereaved families and for the charity’s work.

The charity points out that 24 families each day in Northern Ireland are devastated by the loss of a baby – this includes all types of pregnancy loss (miscarriage, stillbirth etc), as well as neonatal loss and death of an infant due to other causes.

Life After Loss offers support to those unfortunate enough to find themselves in this situation, via an online forum available 24/7 and by organised meet-ups and memorial events. For more information, anyone affected by the loss of a baby should visit www.lifeafterloss.org.uk