Ribbons and candles in memory of stillborn babies

A woman from Cornwall who lost her baby late in pregnancy has created an emotional memorial for her little girl and for other grieving families.

Kayleigh Barrett, from Carnon Downs, asked people to knit woollen ribbons to remember those babies who were stillborn or who had died shortly after birth.

About 60 ribbons have been tied to a metal sculpture of a horse that stands in the middle of the village after she spread the word about what she was doing.

Mrs Barrett stood at the horse for an hour every evening for a week in case people wanted to light a candle or talk to her about the issue of child loss.

Kayleigh, 37, was nearly at full term with her daughter Lyra Mae in January this year when she realised something was wrong.

After a scan, doctors told her they could not find a heartbeat, so the baby was delivered by Caesarean section.

She said: "She came out perfectly fine, apart from no heartbeat.

"I have already got a six-year-old, so she has kept me going, and I cried a lot.

"But my six-year-old got me through it, and my husband; but it was hard."

Her idea of a public commemoration was inspired by Baby Loss Awareness Week, which runs from 9-15 October.

Her idea of tying knitted ribbons on the metal horse caught peoples' imaginations when she posted about it on social media.

She said: "So I sat down for about three hours, writing names and putting tags on there for every baby that has been lost around the area.

"It's just so people could remember their baby, but also it makes people aware that it is OK to talk about it."

"I wanted to do things for other people, that's how I've dealt with it."

In pride of place on the horse's nose is a purple and pink ribbon bearing the name Lyra Mae.

Mrs Barrett said: "She is still with us. My daughter doesn't stop talking about her, which is really lovely.

"She will always be there."

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