The monthly Babes + Picnics meeting is a light-hearted get together for local mums – but this month it focused on a serious issue that affects many.
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October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month, and the guest speaker at the picnic was Laura Grzelak, a Raymond Terrace woman who suffered a stillbirth with her son Linik at 35 weeks.
Ms Grzelak shared her story with the hundreds who attended Friday’s meet up at Maitland Park. The meeting also raised money for the beneficiaries are Sands Australia and Charlee's Basket Bereavement Hampers.
She said she experienced a strange sense of strength and peace from her miscarriage, and felt it was her duty to share her story to help others.
“Linik couldn’t be here to make an impact, so he’s doing that through me,” she said.
Ms Grzelak said a lot of women felt shame and embarrassment from suffering a miscarriage, but felt she was helping take that feeling away by sharing her story.
Babes + Picnics Maitland ambassador Lauren Greay said it was hugely important to discuss miscarriage and stillbirth, as it was a subject that was still not talked about despite being so common.