The History
Stillbirthday began in 2011, as a resource to provide free, printable birth plans for birth in any trimester, as well as free networking and access to additional supports for families.
Soon after, we began to see a need regarding an alternative to traditional balloon releases. The ways in which we can celebrate, show tribute and honor our journeys and our babies can feel a little bit limited, so we wanted to do something very special.
As stillbirthday continues to grow, reaching literally hundreds of thousands of families every single year, the founder also continues to train up interested individuals who want to become certified doulas. In response to the enormous global reach stillbirthday has, the founder still desires to maintain a close relationship with every family who visits the website and utilizes the resources offered here.
So every year, she handwrites the names of our beloved babies onto teeny, degradable paper hearts that later can grow into flowers. All of our babies are included.
And every October, those hearts are released in a symbolic, special way. And it’s always free to attend and be part of what stillbirthday named, the Hearts Release.
Here is a video from one of our earliest Hearts Release events:
2020 Hearts Release Event Details
FREE
The 2020 Hearts Release will be in a sweet little town just north of Kansas City, Missouri. Overlooking the Smithville Lake, the town is called Paradise.
Saturday, October 10, 2020
gathering beginning early afternoon (exact time to be announced)
The best lodging option is Kearney Holiday Inn.
900 Watson Drive,
Kearney MO 64060
816.635.1066
(If you like joining facebook events, here’s ours.)
Paradise, MO Hearts Release
Paradise, Missouri
Sailboat Cove, Pavilion, Smithville Lake
4404 Paradise Rd.
Smithville, MO 64089
COVID update
Rather than a COVID update that takes away from an event, our COVID update is to let you know that we understand that this year’s event may draw even less people to witness than before, due to finances, travel restrictions and health concerns. You are always welcome to attend if you choose. But if you can’t attend, we are opening two options that you may find valuable:
- You can purchase a sign to have your baby’s name written on it if you’d like.
- You can send in a photo of your baby if you’d like, which we will hold at the event. You can email photos: heidi.faith@stillbirthday.com, or you can ship photos: stillbirthday | PO Box 101 | Kearney MO 64060
Satellite Locations | Hearts Partners
The Hearts Release represents the global impact of healing families, families who have met the places where birth & bereavement meet. It is always free to add your babies’ names, and, if you are able, it is always free to attend our event. Each year we provide special touches to make the event a wonderful, healing experience.
If you’ve added your beloved babies’ names but are certain you are unable to travel to witness the Hearts Release event, we allow our certified stillbirthday doulas to create satellite events to bring the spirit of the event into their communities. We call these very special, creative and lovely people Hearts Partners. We’ll add a link here soon!
Event Tee Shirt
We’ll announce details about our 2020 Hearts Release tee shirt.
Add Your Babies’ Names
Dear families,
It is everything, the honor to have your permission to hold your beloved babies’ names. To see them, to speak them, to handwrite them, to release them.
Some families who’ve come before you didn’t know the gender of their beloved baby. Some chose a name that wasn’t gender-identifying, while others chose, for example, a strong female first and strong male middle name. Still others, have chosen special locations, such as cities or monuments, that are important to them. And, many families simply choose nicknames, or words of affection, for their baby.
It is never too late to choose a name for your baby.
And there is no birth story, no part of a birth story, that disqualifies a person from choosing a name for their baby. You have a right to name your baby.
You can add your babies’ names, right now. Stillbirthday founder Heidi Faith spends the entire year handwriting our beloved babies’ names.
Baby Name Guest Book
We have a couple options you can choose from.
Our 2020 Baby Name “Note” on facebook is now available.
We also always have active facebook posts that you can comment on, to add your beloved babies’ names there. Founder Heidi Faith likes to use the “heart” feature to confirm that all of the babies’ names on that post have been handwritten onto a heart.
Additionally, you can use the comment form below to add your babies’ names.
