Bonnie and Steve have had two daughters: Grace and Matilda.

Tragically, both sisters lived only months and died early in gestation.

In 2016, Grace died only 19 weeks into Bonnie's pregnancy due to a fatal heart defect.

Grace Carter was lost early in gestation because of a fatal heart defect. ( Supplied )

Just one year later, the couple fell pregnant with Matilda, who they called their rainbow baby, because she came after the storm.

But again they received the dreaded news — during a routine scan, they discovered Matilda had no heartbeat.

"Until it happens to you, you cannot prepare for the grief and the waves of grief that will forever hit you," Bonnie said.

"It was absolutely devastating. We had huge plans to start a family and it was taken from us," Steve said.

The couple said the toughest part was realising that early pregnancy loss — most commonly due to miscarriage — is barely recognised.

"The hardest part was the silence. The silence was deafening. People didn't know what to say. They sort of avoided us. We lost a few friends," Bonnie said.

"We still fight now to honour our girls, to have people talk about them and mention their names."

They said that while stillbirth awareness had improved, there was a distinct lack of understanding and support for parents who had suffered a loss before 20 weeks.

In some instances, people had used insensitive wording and terminology which made Bonnie and Steve feel as though Grace was "fobbed off" as being preterm and "not worthy" of being recognised as their baby.

"Grace was still a little human being that we held, that we met, that we named," they said.

Memorial services help with grief

Bonnie and Steve had these tags made for their two little girls. ( ABC News: Adam Kennedy )

When having to say goodbye to Grace in 2016, Bonnie and Steve were one of many couples who opted for a group memorial service that is unique to Canberra Hospital.

"With our second daughter, Matilda, we had to plan her funeral in the midst of the deep, dark early days of the grief — and that is the hardest thing you could ever imagine," Bonnie said.

"But with Grace, that responsibility was taken away from us in the most positive way possible.

"I remember I was sitting at home wanting to rush back to the hospital just to hold her again because I felt like she would be there in this room all on her own in her little coffin.

"But seeing her coffin amongst all of the other babies at the memorial service was just heart-warming."

Canberra Hospital's non-denominational service is dedicated to babies lost before 20 weeks.

Earlier this week, 13 babies were placed in their own hand-crafted coffin, the size of shoe box, to be farewelled by their loved-ones.

A harp played softly at the back of the room, and one-by-one the names of the babies were read out, as bereaved parents and families were invited to each light a candle.

Candles are lit at the memorial service. ( ABC News: Adam Kennedy )

Neale Roberts leads the memorial services, and said the idea came about because there was "a big gap in how to attend to the grieving of mums and dads who experienced early pregnancy loss".

"We recognise the grief of mums and dads, who had all of the expectations of a pregnancy and a child which didn't come to fruition in the way they had expected," he said.

"We show the families in which coffin is their baby … we think that greatly assists the families in understanding the reality of what has happened.

"They also see that they are one of a number of people and that they are sitting with other mums and dads who have been through a similar experience."

Mr Roberts acknowledged there was the risk that some parents could be retraumatised by the group memorial, but said extra support was provided for those who need it.

"A lot of work happens before the parents get to this point," Mr Roberts explained.

"Our social workers and nursing staff in Women's and Children are amazing at journeying with the women through their pregnancy."

Often, these staff members attend the memorial service, as was the case with Bonnie and Steve, who said their midwives and counsellors attended Grace's memorial.

"To see them at the service, showing their true sense of love for their patients, they didn't have to be there," Bonnie said. "They've got busy jobs as it is.

"But the people that had cared for us were still there at that point."

Teddy bears for the bereaved

Neale Roberts with one of the knitted teddies available at Canberra Hospital's memorial services. ( ABC News: Adam Kennedy )

Mr Roberts also prepares the room for the service with knitted teddy bears, initially designed to provide comfort for the children who attend.

But before long, he noticed it was not the children who clutched the bears, but the bereaved fathers.

"We put the teddy bears out initially for little kids — it's quite common that families have already had one or two little children," he explained.

"We found by accident that it was the dads that were grabbing the teddy bears. I asked for a few of them to be made in football jumper colours."

"Just to watch the dads walk in, sit down, have a look around, nervous, but then at a particular time grab a hold really tight. Then they come and ask is it okay, I know they're for the kids, but is it okay if I take this one home. That's really special.

"Dads grieve. They grieve quietly, and often silently, and for them to be able to take something with them as a memory of the day and their unborn child is really important."

It is a sentiment Steve really appreciates.

"Men are sort of pushed to the side," he said.

"Having gone through it, it was definitely a lonely time. Everyone was helping Bonnie and I was just there to make up space.

"Absolutely [we need to] be there for the man. He's hurting just as much as the wife."

At the completion of the service, the ashes go to a local crematorium.

"They have created a special garden that is only for those babies, and it's become a real focal point for families," Mr Roberts said.

That, and pregnancy loss awareness work in the community, are things that have helped Steve and Bonnie "survive".

"The majority of our friends and families have been amazing. We couldn't have done it without their support," they said.

"And we have hope that one day we will still start our family with some living children."