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Photographing 15 Faces of Baby Loss - Katherine Kannegieter
Joanne Lewis • 1 October 2019
October is Pregnancy, Infant and Child Loss Awareness Month
Baby Loss Awareness month is an opportunity to recognise the unique grief of bereaved parents, and offer comfort and support to the many families who have suffered such a tragic loss. It is also a chance for bereaved parents to commemorate their babies lives and break the silence and taboo around pregnancy and infant loss.
I am one of those parents!
This year I am honoured to have joined together with my local SANDS and Sunshines and Rainbows playgroup and over the next few weeks will be sharing the photos and stories of 15 families who have lost a baby.
Why 15? Because in the UK 15 babies die every day either before, during or shortly after birth.
Today I would like to introduce Katherine Kannegieter (and her 3rd son Harvey).
Katherine started the Bishops Stortford Sunshines and Rainbows playgroup (a playgroup for parents to take their children born before of after a loss) after the birth of her second - but first living - son. She works tirelessly to bring bereaved parents together and raise awareness of baby loss.
Why I started a Sunshine and Rainbows playgroup
On the 11th April 2013 at 7am our son Finley was born naturally and silently into the world - one week late.
The previous evening we had arrived at the hospital in labour after a low risk pregnancy, fully expecting to be bringing our baby home soon. On arrival we were told they couldn’t find a heartbeat. I thought once you passed the first 12 weeks everything would be fine, I didn’t realise you could not bring a baby home. Instead we bought home a small box with a photo, some hand prints and a lock of his hair, and an empty car seat.
My husband and I were devastated, broken and empty. I felt so proud and totally overwhelmed by my love for Finley as I held onto him for a few very precious hours. He was beautiful and perfect and I was desperate to show him off and have normal new parent conversations. He had lots of dark hair, a cute button nose and really long legs, he had made me a mummy. Instead we were receiving sympathy not congratulations cards and were making funeral arrangements.
I was pregnant again with our rainbow baby (a baby born after a storm) within 4 months and that pregnancy was so different, I didn’t believe we would bring this baby home.
When he did finally arrive safely, although hugely relieved I found playgroups so uncomfortable hearing other people’s stories and experiences, mine was so different. I felt alone, and was mostly worrying that this baby was going to die too at any moment. This is why I started sunshine and rainbows playgroup for baby loss parents, as I was desperate to talk to others who understood and I thought there must be others that feel the same.
I am breaking the silence over baby loss. I am now a Mum of 3 boys. Finley, still born still loved, should be age 6. Reuben age 5. Harvey age 2.
A picture of Santa and me...
... Buy one, Get one Free*
... a second print using the same photo for free*
... a mounted print of a photo she's created for me*
I couldn't let Black Friday 2020 go by without some amazing deals for my wonderful and valued customers... I've missed you all so much this year, but have loved the few shoots I was able to squeeze in between lockdowns and Home Education. With all the optimism I can muster for next year (I am naturally a pretty positive person) I am offering some spectacular deals on vouchers for my Hertford Studio and outdoor or on-location sessions next year (packages may be given as gifts, but please confirm preferred locations around Hertfordshire and some parts of London, Cambridgeshire and Essex with me before booking).
You will need: an egg box scissors black and white paint paint brush googly eyes glue (hot glue gun ideally) black felt tip pen string or ribbon for hanging
You will need: an egg box scissors white paint paint brush black felt tip pen or sharpie goggly eyes and glue (optional)
You will need: an egg box scissors Orange (or yellow and red) paint paint brush black felt tip pen or sharpie lollypop stick glue green paper/card for leaf
You will need: an egg box scissors black paint paint brush googly eyes glue Red paper/card for bow-tie White paper/card for shirt and teeth
You will need: an egg box scissors green and black paint (or I used a green egg box for the head) paint brush googly eyes glue black paper/card for hat orange paper/card for hair
