This can create an extremely complicated emotional experience.
Parents may feel:
- Happiness
- Love
- Grief
- Shock
- Sadness
- Emotional exhaustion
A purple butterfly can help healthcare workers and visitors understand that the family may be experiencing both joy and grief at the same time.
A Symbol of a Surviving Sibling
The purple butterfly is sometimes placed near the surviving baby’s hospital cot or crib.
Its purpose is not to identify the baby as sick.
Instead, it can indicate that the baby had a sibling who was part of the pregnancy but did not survive.
This helps staff understand that the family may need additional sensitivity and emotional support.
Why a Butterfly?
The butterfly is often used as a symbol of transformation, remembrance, and the fragility of life.
For families who experience the loss of a baby, the butterfly can become a meaningful symbol of the child who is no longer physically present.
The image can represent:
- Love
- Memory
- Hope
- Transformation
- Remembrance
- The connection between siblings
The symbol allows families to acknowledge the baby they lost while celebrating the baby who survived.
The Purple Color
The color purple has also become associated with awareness and remembrance surrounding pregnancy and infant loss.
It can represent a mixture of emotions.
