Three mums who have lost babies have set up a new support group to help families who have suffered a bereavement at childbirth.

There to help others cope - Jo Lane with her son Harrison Picture: MAXINE CLARKE

The Forget-Me-Not group will be held on the last Thursday of each month at the Laindon Community Centre.

It will be run by Jo Lane, whose baby Cavan was still-born in May 2000, Karla Cairns, whose baby girl Grace was still-born in November 1993 and Lisa Hayes, whose baby girl Phenie died on Christmas Day 2002 just nine hours after she was born.

Jo, 32, of Lucerne Walk, Shotgate, said: "We have learnt through our experiences that the loss of a baby effects not only the mother and father but each member of the family and close friends in different ways.

"Some are angry, others suffer feelings of guilt or utter despair, while many simply don't want to discuss the baby at all.

"We have all felt that talking to other parents who have suffered a loss has been a great help as we have come to realise that the emotions we have been feeling are absolutely normal."

Karla Cairns and others have been raising funds for the Forget-me-not suite at Basildon Hospital for the past ten years.

When her little girl was born there, no such facilities were available.

Karla has also raised funds for a memorial garden for babies at Pitsea Crematorium, where families can put up a plaque on a special wall and plant forget-me-not seeds in the garden.

The group has been set up thanks to a £500 grant from Basildon Council. The first meeting is on January 29 at 7pm.

Published Wednesday January 14, 2004

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