Eastenders Stillbirth Storyline

Published on: 09/08/2015

In the coming weeks Eastenders will be showing a storyline where the characters’ Shabnam Masood and Kush Kazemi’s baby is stillborn.  Writers have been working closely with experts at Sands to try and tell this story as truthfully as possible.  Here at MAMA we wanted to warn any bereaved parents and families who might find it distressing viewing.

 

Erica Stewart, Bereavement Support Services Manager at Sands, said: “Sadly, stillbirth is not rare, it’s a devastating tragedy that affects thousands of people every year, from all walks of life…The death of a baby is rarely talked about. Many people shy away from the issue, others have a misconception that this is a thing of the past. We hope that with a TV drama as popular as EastEnders covering this heartbreaking experience, it will help to lift the taboo, and raise awareness of all the issues that surround the death of a baby.”

 

Rakhee Thakrar, who plays Shabnam, adds: “In the UK, 3628 babies were stillborn in 2013, that’s one in every 216 births; a shocking fact I’ve come to learn during my preparation for telling this story. It is an experience that profoundly changes a person’s life forever, and we feel a heavy responsibility to tell the truth of this. Our hope is that we can encourage people to talk about their experiences and their babies that have died.”

 

BBC article can be viewed here

Sands statement here