Malta Infertility Network hold balloon release activity in remembrance of unborn children

The NGO Malta Infertility Network led a Fertility Awareness Week event this morning next to the Great Siege Bell in Valletta.

The ceremony invited members of the public to let off balloons in memory of miscarried babies. The aim was also to solemnise “the grief experienced by couples who have suffered from infertility.”

"The reason we chose 'Break the Silence' as the slogan for our banner is that 1 in every 6 couples suffer from infertility, and it is not only a taboo but something highly personal. We need to be very careful about how we speak about it because everyone knows someone family struggling with this," Diane Calleja Gilson said.

Due to environmental concerns, the group announced a change of plans on their Facebook page yesterday: instead of letting off the balloons in the sky, these were tied together and hoisted back down.

This is the first time that the Fertility Awareness Week – which takes place between October 30 and November 5 - is being commemorated on the island. The NGO is a support group for hundreds of women who struggle with fertility issues.

The activity was not only for miscarried babies, but also for those who never got conceived. "With infertility, you mourn your baby every month."

"Infertility is a medical condition which you are reminded of all the time. You struggle with it because it stays between you and your husband only," Calleja Gibson said. "I was blessed to have the support of my family but not everyone is as lucky."

"Infertility becomes the third person in the relationship. It becomes a part of your life, and is always at the back of your head. We meet many couples who are struggling because they feel alone, so we came here to offer our support and raise awareness."