Read about Baby Loss Awareness Week and how to find support and information.
This week is Baby Loss Awareness Week, which takes place every year from 9-15 October. It’s an opportunity for parents, their families and friends to acknowledge and remember their precious babies who have died.
For the first time, the charities supporting Baby Loss Awareness week will be working with the newly formed All-Party Parliamentary Group on Baby Loss to highlight in Parliament the impact of losing a baby.
To mark Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day on Saturday 15 October, a Global Wave of Light will take place at 7pm.
Significantly, in Westminster on 13 October, there was a ground-breaking and incredibly emotional debate on baby loss.
This was the first of its kind, and saw baby loss discussed on the floor of the House of Commons by MPs from across the political spectrum.
Watch Leigh Kendall’s video to find out what helped her after the loss of her son, Hugo.
This week is also a chance to raise awareness of the emotional impact of pregnancy and infant loss, and the scale of the tragedy, which affects up to one in five families in the UK.
Some people may not know how to offer support to someone they know and may feel scared to bring up the subject.
Baby Loss Awareness Week is an opportunity to help banish the taboo and make people aware of the wonderful charities and organisations that support parents and offer advice to family members, friends and healthcare professionals caring for those whose baby has died.
Read our article about what causes stillbirth and the support available.
The national charity Sands (Stillbirth & Neonatal Death Charity) runs a helpline, provides information and funds research into the causes of stillbirth. Call the helpline on 020 7436 5881 (9.30am to 5.30pm), Monday to Friday or email the confidential email helpline: helpline@uk-sands.org.
Tommy’s, a charity which funds research into stillbirth, premature birth and miscarriage, has lots of helpful information.
