Capturing a moment in time: Infant Bereavement
A friend of mine, Claude Barclay, told me about this free service that a select group of photographers take part in. He is considering joining this himself. To tell you the truth, it was a hard site to visit and view. But the images are captured eloquently and with the motive of healing for the families.
Along with the uncertainty of birth, many families look forward to this being a beautiful moment of joy. The bringing of an infant into the family. It is a wonderful experience. One I look forward to one day. But sometimes, rarely, there are complications with the birth or the baby where nothing can be done. Doctors may try everything and still fail. It is a very confusing time for the family.
How do you celebrate the life that was and is no more?
Here is an excerpt from their website:
What NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP can provide:
For Parents experiencing an infant loss, (as early as 20 weeks gestation) we can provide you with these heirloom memories of your precious baby. At your request, we will have a professional photographer come to your hospital location for a private and sensitive photography session. You will be provided with a DVD of your baby set to a meaningful melody and the CD file of all photographs taken that you can personally reproduce up to a 5X7 size. (please note: Each photographers offer varies location to location. Check listing photographer for what he/she can provide.)
NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. There are no fees for this service.
I am not going to post any of the images from this site in respect of the families who have lost infants in this way and for the unsettling nature of the images for one not prepared for it. Please visit at your own discretion and help support this wonderful organization.
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POSTED IN: Art News
3 opinions for Capturing a moment in time: Infant Bereavement
Susanna Rose
Mar 6, 2007 at 8:14 am
I saw some pictures a while ago that a family had taken at the hospital of their still born son. It was very sad to see but I thought it was brave of them to desire to still remember their son and his birth as they would have had he survived!
P.S. Thanks for stopping by my site the other day and yes, I do remember Stryper!:)
William Lehman
Mar 6, 2007 at 4:39 pm
It’s a touchy subject to take an image of such a small infant that has passed away and barely began to live.
I wasn’t a Stryper fan perse, but it’s funny looking back at how Christian music has changed over the last few decades. By the way, that Petra song worked perfectly for the service. Thank you for having the lyrics when I needed them.
Linda O'Neill
Mar 7, 2007 at 10:20 am
Pretty amazing photography here. It seems we are so afraid of death in this culture…but there is beauty in it as well when it is honored. If it helps these families…then it is even more profound.
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