Mothers and fathers remember lost children at Holla Trails walk

One in four women will experience a miscarriage in her lifetime, others will experience the loss of a baby at birth or of a young infant.

Mothers and fathers grieving the loss of their babies, both in and out the womb were given the chance to remember their lost ones at a Walk of Remembrance held at Holla Trails on Sunday.

An intimate group of mothers, fathers, siblings, grandparents and other family members went on a 2-5km walk after lighting candles in remembrance of the deceased.

Bereavement doulas guide parents through the process of losing a child before they are born, after, or as a result of a termination due to medical complications.

Support is what they offer, and so the joint initiative between the founder of the Baby Bryce Foundation, Bianca Johnson, and bereavement doulas Vanessa de Beer and Johanna Karlsson was brought about.

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De Beer said they offer their services to local hospitals including Netcare’s Alberlito and Umhlanga hospitals as well as Mediclinic Victoria, and are planning to start supporting bereaved families at the Stanger government hospital too.

Their work also extends to mothers who have babies in neonatal intensive care units with life limiting conditions.

Vanessa and co-bereavement doula, Johanna, facilitate a support group which meets on the first Wednesday of every month at Ballito Medical Centre at 7pm for moms who have experienced pregnancy/infant loss.

“This is a safe place for moms to meet other moms who have experienced loss,” said De Beer.

Contact Mama-Nurture Bereavement doulas Vanessa at 084 581 8080 or Johanna Karlsson at 082 369 1039.

For more information on future events, head to the Infant and Pregnancy Loss Remembrance Walk Durban Facebook page.

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