Date posted:
ABC Article - 19 April 2024 - Stillbirth rates remain unchanged for 20 years and data delays are hurting families, experts say. We are so proud to be able to shine a light on the rates of stillbirth in Australia. There is so much work to be done. Raising awareness...
Date posted:
I found out I was pregnant with our first child after returning from a beautiful holiday in Europe in 2022. I surprised my husband with the news on our 3-year wedding anniversary. My 'gift' to him was the positive pregnancy test wrapped up in a little box. We were over...
Date posted:
After my husband Darren and I got married, we found out that it was going to be a little harder for us to conceive than we originally thought. We went down the fertility assistance path and through IVF got pregnant on our first transfer with our little boy, who we...
Date posted:
Daniel was our first very much wanted baby. It was a very easy pregnancy and everything was going to plan until 10 days before my due date and I realised I had not felt the baby move all day. We went to the hospital and were told those words that...
Date posted:
Born on the 26th January 2021 at only 36 weeks and 2 days gestation, our daughter, our creation, our little sunflower – Frankie Marjorie Knox entered this world in silence. Here is our story… On January 19, 2021 I was 35 weeks 2 days gestation when I noticed Frankie was...
Date posted:
Dearest precious Mars, You have generated so much love. It is a healing story. Can I share your story? Yes, I see that rainbow. Thank you, Mars. On June 29th (your due date) you were born, Mars Louis Fuller, our perfect, beautiful grandson and you brought with you so much...
Date posted:
Today (29/11/21) my grandson would be 5 months old, smiling, giggling, cheekily taking everything in, if he was with us. The sadness sits heavily in my heart. I try to take comfort thinking of his gentle soul is somewhere in the universe watching over us. June 29, 2021, our youngest...
Date posted:
I knew the morning that I got ready to taxi to the hospital that he was already gone. My dog lay with his head in my lap and I feel like we both knew. I was 35 weeks pregnant to the day when I heard the words “I’m sorry there...
Date posted:
Last year in April we published a blog post titled “What we know during COVID-19”. Back then we understood far less about COVID-19 and its link to women who are expecting, pregnant, or breastfeeding. Now, however, it’s safe to say a lot has changed; new variants of the virus, new...
Date posted:
I sit here writing this, wishing I could return to that life when everything was simple, easy and happy. I remember the day I found out I was pregnant like it was yesterday. J was doing a workout, I had a gut feeling of something, but never expected to be...
Date posted:
When I was 20 weeks and 1-day pregnant we went to find out the sex of our second child. Instead of hearing "it’s a boy or a girl", the ultrasound tech tells us “I’m sorry I’m not finding a heartbeat". My husband and I stood there and quietly I told...
Date posted:
The last time I was happy you were growing inside of me. We were debating whether you’d be a boy or a girl, your Daddy knew he was destined to be a girl Dad. I was putting the finishing touches on your nursery, packing my hospital bag and spending quality...
Date posted:
Pregnancy turned out to be a breeze for me every appointment was perfect. Every scan and every test where always on point. Throughout my pregnancy, I was very aware of the changes my body was going through, and I was very in tune with my baby’s movements and everything going...
Date posted:
In 2020, the Australian Government announced the National Stillbirth Action and Implementation Plan. The National Stillbirth Action and Implementation Plan recognises stillbirth as a public health issue. We developed it in response to a recommendation of the Senate Select Committee on Stillbirth Research and Education Report. The plan includes short,...
Date posted:
I just wanted to share my story so other angel moms won’t feel alone. I was 18 when I found out I was pregnant with my first baby last year November in 2019. My due date was this August 4th 2020. Everything was good and my daughter was healthy. My...
Date posted:
Routine maternity care has recently changed in Australia due to COVID-19 restrictions, with researchers and clinicians expressing concerns that a drop in physical assessments and face-to-face consults could lead to an increase in stillbirth rates. Pregnant women are currently not considered high risk to contract COVID-19, however changes are being...
Date posted:
There are currently many things we do not know about Covid-19 and it's possible impact on pregnancy and birth. But there are many things we do know about how women can keep safe in pregnancy to maximise their own wellbeing and the chances of their baby being born safe and...
Date posted:
Stillbirth risk left out in latest guidelines for preterm birth In a move to reduce preterm birth rates, an awareness campaign launched last month could potentially ignore important education that is proven to reduce stillbirth. Advocates for stillbirth prevention, Still Aware, are recommending all factors should be considered in the...
Date posted:
27 July 2018 It wasn’t an easy task accepting my pregnancy as a single mum, but it was definitely the most beautiful experience I have ever had, not only achieving everything I did but proving to myself how strong I really was, being able to carry after thinking I couldn’t....
Date posted:
29 October 2014 The most beautiful image I have ever seen, our 8 week ultrasound. I will never forget the amazement and excitement I felt when the image appeared. I yelled “TWINS” before the tech could even get one word out. That’s right, after a miscarriage 7 months prior, God...
Date posted:
16 October 1949 How times and the approach of the medical profession have changed – for the better. Our brother Randolph was stillborn to our mother in 1949. Rod, was 2 1/2 years old at the time, Kathy and Nancy not being born until 1950 and 1952 respectively. Thus the...
Date posted:
3 July 2011 My angel was born sleeping at 40 weeks in July 2011. A worry free and symptom free first pregnancy to term (I had had an early miscarriage a year before) and on our check-up on the due date, 30 June 2011, the midwife was unable to find...
Date posted:
1 April 2015 My baby died a few weeks before she was supposed to be born. I’m still supposed to be pregnant with her right now. She is still supposed to be wiggling around, happy and safe inside of me. Her due date is in 12 days time. And instead...
Date posted:
24 September 2002 Jaikob was our first born. He wasn’t planned but once the shock wore off Pete and I were both excited. My pregnancy was very smooth no issues, well until I was 34 weeks. On the Friday I had my normal check up, everything was good, strong heart...
Date posted:
5 May 2014 Mine and Rods journey to fall pregnant was not the easiest we tried for a few years before we found out that we could not fall pregnant naturally. So we went to a fertility specialist. We only had to do one round of IVF and it worked....
Date posted:
1 January 2016 On this dark morning, the 25th of February 2016 at 12:22am, I sit on my bed, candles lit and tea in hand. From as young as I can remember I wanted only two things from life; to be a successful hairdresser and to be a mother. Two...
Date posted:
13 February 2015 I told her you never forget, it doesn’t get easier, you just learn a new way of life. You’re different, you won’t ever be the person you were before and that’s ok. Days will pass and then years. Some days you’re ok and others your not. We...
Date posted:
6 January 2018 We got pregnant around the time my Grandmother was put on hospice. I was her caregiver and finding out we were pregnant was giving her reason to keep fighting. I believed I got pregnant because God was taking away my Grandma. This would be my second pregnancy...
Date posted:
12 February 2014 My husband Brad and I always knew we wanted to have children and it was when I was 29 that we started trying. It didn’t happen like we had hoped, naively believing that we’d click our fingers and presto our first child would be on the way,...
Date posted:
10 May 1997 I don’t know how to write this so I’m just going to do my best. I’m 14 years old and I have an older sister, who was stillborn. Her name is Matilda May Wilson and she will be 18 on May the 10th 2015. She is three...
Date posted:
14 July 2014 Scott and I were married in October 2013 and we thrilled to discover that we were pregnant upon returning from our honeymoon. Getting pregnant came easily to us. We felt very fortunate. Our excitement soon turned to devastation when we received the results of our 12 week...
Date posted:
26 April 1988 On 26th April 1988 I was at home with my [then] husband and 4 year old daughter, I was 37 weeks pregnant and everything was going along fine. I remember my water broke but there were no contractions, nothing unusual; here as it was the same scenario...
Date posted:
21 September 2011 My pregnancy would be classed as a ‘dream pregnancy’, I had no morning sickness and no pregnancy symptoms to complain of. I was under an obstetrician & at 32 weeks I saw him for my regular appointment. I sat down & remember saying to him that I...
Date posted:
15 February 2014 On the 13th of February 2014 I went to a routine check up with my obstetrician. I was 34 weeks pregnant. I’d pretty much skipped out of work that day. I had a delivery of decorations arrive for my baby shower. Which was scheduled for 2 weeks...
Date posted:
31 March 2012 This is my Alice story…. We were like any couple expecting their first baby, nervous, excited, clueless. My pregnancy was uneventful, although I was huge! I started to measure weeks ahead and by full term I was 4 weeks ahead in growth. It was our due week...
Date posted:
9 October 2017 This is Hamish’s birth story. It was only 7 days ago I woke up feeling a little bit funny. Something was just not quite right. I couldn’t feel my baby moving in my stomach. I was 1 day off 39 weeks pregnant and eagerly anticipating the arrival...
Date posted:
13 April 1958 This year I’ll be 58. When my mum was 19 she got married and was already 3 months pregnant with my elder brother. Thinking while breastfeeding she couldn’t get pregnant, I was conceived and born 13 months later. April 13th 1958 at St Marys Hospital Armley Leeds...
Date posted:
13 September 2016 When my Husband and I found out we were expecting we were over joyed. Being first time parents was thrilling and exciting. We had a healthy pregnancy during our first trimester. Not long into my second trimester at 20 weeks I went in for a routine scan...
Date posted:
23 November 2015 Every part of my pregnancy was normal and routine, and there was never anything to indicate that there was going to be a problem. At my 33 week check up my obstetrician asked, as always, if I was feeling lots of movement. And, as always, I told...
Date posted:
23 September 2014 It was a Saturday in September 2014. I had been feeling flu-like symptoms for a few days and put it down to being 35wks pregnant and having 2 small children to run after so thought nothing of it. All of a sudden I broke out in a...
Date posted:
12 September 2013 Andrew and I met in July 2012. I knew the first moment he kissed me that he would change my life. We found out that we were expecting our first child together (I have 2 boys from a previous relationship and Andrew has 1. They were 12,...
Date posted:
19 March 2016 People take getting pregnant and having babies for granted but after a miscarriage last year I treasured every kick and movement that Dolly gave me.. My pregnancy had gone smoothly and Dolly was a good size and I was having regular strong kicks.. 4 days before we...
Date posted:
1 September 2016 I am so lucky and so grateful for this group. I simply stumbled across one of your videos and started monitoring movements as soon as possible. My babies kicks were quite regular so no problem there but after checking myself into hospital twice due to severe abdominal...
Date posted:
30 January 2013 My husband and I were so excited – our first child was due on February 5th, 2013. I’d had a pretty uneventful pregnancy, if you ignore the intense morning sickness that had me basically bed-ridden for 3 months! There was no indication of any problems, everything was...
Date posted:
24 August 2015 While pregnant I heard of Still Aware and understood how important it would be toget to know my baby. So as soon as I felt my little bump moving around, I started monitoring her movements and counting her kicks. I was aware of and was in tune...
Date posted:
18 April 2016 I’ll never forget the day that I went for my dating ultrasound to see not only one but TWO babies! I was so shocked but overfilled with excitement! My first pregnancy and I was blessed with 2 babies, one boy and one girl. Everything was perfect during...
Date posted:
22 April 2018 This is a little message to ALL mummies who are expecting – you may be a first time Mum, you may be pregnant with your second, third, fourth, eighth baby.. Just want to tell you all to trust your gut feeling, 6 weeks ago I birthed my...
Date posted:
22 September 2014 Noah was born still after a normal and otherwise ‘textbook’ pregnancy. I carried our beautiful boy to 41 weeks gestation. Besides some morning sickness in the first trimester, I felt great throughout the pregnancy, and all routine tests and ultrasounds were normal. It was a Sunday morning,...
Date posted:
We are here to help you with everything we can. Find some helpful tips, checklists and printable invitations to make the best of your event.
Date posted:
Plenty of printables to download and make your Birthday For Babies raise as much awareness as possible. Try out the DIY Bunting, or print your own donation jar toppers.
Date posted:
Share your event loud and proud with our Birthday For Babies social media icons. Download and share to your Facebook or Instagram, don't forget to tag @birthdayforbabies or #birthdayforbabies
Date posted:
24 March 2014 Four years ago today I woke, knowing my babe hadn’t moved the night before. I had a sick feeling in my stomach. I knew something was wrong but I prayed that I was overthinking and overreacting. I headed up to the hospital, I had phoned them and...
Date posted:
29 September 2017 At 37+2 I was having back pain. I was told by others that it was just a symptom of being pregnant and that it would probably stick around for another couple of weeks yet until our baby was born. At first I just put it down to...
Date posted:
30 November 2016 My husband and I had decided to try again for our fourth child. We had three boys and it had been about 8 years since our last son had been born. At this stage in our life I was able to stay home and we were financially...
Date posted:
3 July 2011 My angel was born sleeping at 40 weeks in July 2011. A worry free and symptom free first pregnancy to term (I had had an early miscarriage a year before) and on our check-up on the due date, 30 June 2011, the midwife was unable to find...
Date posted:
22 April 2018 This is a little message to ALL mummies who are expecting – you may be a first time Mum, you may be pregnant with your second, third, fourth, eighth baby.. Just want to tell you all to trust your gut feeling, 6 weeks ago I birthed my...
Date posted:
27 June 2018 At 35.5 weeks I went in for my biweekly check-up with my family doctor, previous to this I was feeling so decrease in movement.This was my first pregnancy so I wasn’t entirely sure what was normal and what wasn’t. I asked several of my friends who were...
Date posted:
27 July 2018 It wasn’t an easy task accepting my pregnancy as a single mum, but it was definitely the most beautiful experience I have ever had, not only achieving everything I did but proving to myself how strong I really was, being able to carry after thinking I couldn’t....
Date posted:
You can help support Still Aware by becoming an Advocate for change. As an advocate for stillbirth prevention, our Advocates share an understanding of our messages, and a willingness to speak openly and honestly about the importance of stillbirth awareness to aid prevention.
Date posted:
Hosting a fundraiser for Still Aware can be empowering, fun and great way to get together your friends and family to help raise awareness of stillbirth in Australia and the work Still Aware are doing.
Date posted:
This exclusive pledge membership is available to only 100 voices yearly. Every single voice that supports Still Aware’s 100 Voices, gives more than 2000 Australian babies their voice.
Date posted:
Hosting a Butterfly High Tea is simple. We invite you to invite yours. Get together with a group, little or large.
Date posted:
Still Aware is entirely self funded and solely rely on the generous tax deductible donations of supporters like yourself. Your funds enable us to continue our initiative and save babies lives.
Date posted:
Still Aware host a number of events throughout the year that help contribute to our awareness and fundraising efforts. Check our list of upcoming events around Australia to find out what's coming up near you.
Date posted:
This might seem like another weird and unusual title for a blog, or even an unusual way to start a blog, but I read something the other day that really made me think about why I do the things I do (and why I have done them since the loss...
Date posted:
As a parent organisation for parents, Still Aware have been working hard in 2019 to help rebuild partnerships between expectant parents and clinicians in the manner of stillbirth prevention. We were excited to continue this partnership through an invitation to present at the the Annual RANZCOG (Royal Australian and New...
Date posted:
A local Adelaide father has helped raise more than $30,000 by shaving off his dreadlocks, in an effort to raise awareness of stillbirth in honour of his son Alfie. Scott and Alex Warren experienced the devastation of delivering their son stillborn on 11th July, 2017. Soon after, they found a...
Date posted:
In an exciting step forward for stillbirth prevention in Australia, some of the country's leading organisations in stillbirth research and awareness recently launched the 'Safer Baby Bundle' at Parliament House in Canberra. This latest research program is being led by the Stillbirth CRE, and will work to improve the partnership...
Date posted:
I talk about him because I’m proud. I talk about him, because he deserves to be remembered. I talk about him, because even though he’s not physically here with me, he’s never far from my mind. I talk about him, because he’s part of me, a part that I could...
Date posted:
Some may think the loneliest day of my life was the day that we lost Jasper, and in many ways it was. To be honest, I’m not sure that there was or is just one day that is the ‘loneliest day’ when you lose a child, but other than the...
Date posted:
My blogs, fundraisers, donations & sharing of my personal experience of loss & life after loss all lead to one thing…vulnerability. I share so that I can help to break such a taboo subject in society as well as to encourage others to speak up & let themselves be vulnerable…to...
Date posted:
Written by Caroline Campbell, mum of Xanthe, for Still Aware I was 38 years old and 9 months pregnant with my third child on that day when my world came crashing down. Thursday, March 30th, 2017. I hated Thursdays for a long time afterward, and I still hate the month...
Date posted:
Written by Sarah Langford, ACU Bachelor of Midwifery student Originally appeared in Essence: Australian Breastfeeding Association Magazine Vol53 No 3 September 2017 When I was pregnant I tried to cocoon myself in a happy bubble, I didn’t want to hear any “horror stories.” The underlying (naïve) assumption being that as...
Date posted:
Lauren Citrone, mother of Logan, wrote this poem in remembrance of her angel baby, a year after he was born sleeping on 26 January 2014. This year is Logan’s 5th birthday. “It’s been 365 days since you kicked me and I felt you move inside me It’s been 365 days...
Date posted:
I thought stillbirth was just that; stillbirth. Then I learnt there is a very important word that changes everything, PREVENTABLE Stillbirth. Before our family became one of the 6 Australian families per day that experience a baby’s death from stillbirth, I never knew just how prevalent this type of death...
Date posted:
Like many mothers, I was so excited to be expecting my first baby and downloaded about half a dozen pregnancy apps to my phone so I could follow my baby's growth and development. It was a little thrill to read what my baby was doing in there "This week she's...
Date posted:
What another bereaved mother wants you to know In our society, there are many negative connotations attached to the term ‘stillbirth’. Which I suppose is understandable. To lose a life which has barely begun is, after all, one of life’s most devastating, soul shattering tragedies. We know this. But while...