Frome woman’s display raises awareness of baby loss

A display created by a Frome woman has given local people a place to remember babies who have died during pregnancy, birth or infancy, while opening up conversations about baby loss.

Charlotte Acerman, who works at The Cutting Bar in the Westway Precinct, invited anyone affected by baby loss to add a ribbon bearing their baby’s name to the display for Baby Loss Awareness Week.

Charlotte created the display after losing her own daughter, Cecilia-Grace, who died aged nine months. She said she wanted to give families a place to honour their babies and talk about their loss.

“I think many people are also surprised to learn how many women are affected by loss. I think it is one in four and a lot of people are surprised,” Charlotte said.

“Awareness is as important for people to know where to go when they need help and to be able to say their baby’s name without feeling like they are going to make someone feel uncomfortable.

“I have had a few men who have said it’s amazing and they didn’t realise how common it is and I have had a few men who have lost children. It is a weird one for them as well, for men whose partners have gone through it, they feel it is not their sorrow, even though it is.”

Charlotte, who moved to Frome in 2022 after the loss of Cecilia-Grace, said she was surprised the town did not already have a display to mark the awareness week, which runs from 9th to 15th October.

“I created a display in 2024 with post-it-notes in the window of The Cutting Bar because there was nothing in Frome,” she said.

“In Yeovil, where we lived, they have a bridge where people can put ribbons on, with their baby’s name during Baby Loss Awareness Week. I was surprised there was nothing in Frome. I emailed the council to see if they would do anything but I never heard back, so I thought I would start one myself.”

Charlotte said the display had received a positive response, with people stopping to read the messages, coming into the salon to talk and asking for their babies’ names to be included.

“People who have had miscarriages feel like they can’t say their child’s name or they can’t do anything to honour their baby,” she said.

“It is sad but it is really lovely to see how many people have reached out to have their baby’s name put on, or their grandchildren.”

Charlotte said her own experience had shaped her determination to raise awareness after Cecilia-Grace died from sudden unexpected death in infancy.

“After she passed away I couldn’t go back into our house in Yeovil, so we ended up homeless and then ended up in Frome,” she said.

The family later found support through the national charity 2Wish, which supports families after the death of a child or young person aged up to 25. Charlotte has been fundraising for the charity.

She is already considering how to develop the display for next year, saying the current ribbons make it difficult to see the babies’ names clearly.

Earlier this month, Charlotte also completed a 10km walk on 10th October, raising £250 for Sands, a charity supporting anyone affected by pregnancy loss or the death of a baby.