It’s a week that helps to unite the pregnancy and baby loss community; we come together and speak out across the week to increase understanding of the impact of loss and remember all babies.

It also plays a crucial role in raising awareness of the importance of ongoing bereavement support, something our National Helpline are experienced in. We’re here to walk with anyone who has experienced baby loss, including miscarriage, stillbirth and loss through abortion, as they explore their feelings and ways to move forward.

The Baby Loss Alliance is an initiative started by a group of parents 22 years ago, it has now evolved into an Alliance of over 130 dedicated pregnancy and baby loss organisations, including Life. Whether you’re someone who has experienced loss, a family member, friend or healthcare professional, we want you to know this Alliance stands together with you.

Few experiences can compare to the trauma and pain of pregnancy and baby loss. During this Baby Loss Awareness Week, we will acknowledge that finding ways to nurture your mental and physical wellbeing is a vital part of anyone’s bereavement journey.

Together, we care for ourselves and each other as part of a community of people affected by all forms of pregnancy and baby loss, including miscarriage, stillbirth, and abortion. Self-care is essential, so you can sustain yourself and be able to raise awareness in a way that’s right for you.

Grief affects every person differently and can change over time, even during Baby Loss Awareness Week itself. It can be extremely hard for any bereaved person to speak out on the issues that matter to them, if they do not have the time and tools to care for themselves first.

Strong emotions after loss are common and completely normal, and we understand that these emotions may become a barrier to practicing self-care. We offer a safe space through our Helpline for anyone who has struggled or is struggling and wants a professional and compassionate ear.

And for those who want to be an ally to people affected by pregnancy and baby loss, we will help you share with care this Baby Loss Awareness Week.

Baby Loss Awareness Week ends with the global ‘Wave of Light’ on 15 October. Everyone is invited, wherever they are in the world, to light a candle at 7pm local time as a special mark of support and remembrance.

To anyone navigating this journey, whether recently bereaved or longer ago, we hope we can offer reassurance that there is a community that understands and is here for you, whatever you need – be it guidance, shared stories or simply a listening ear to help and offer comfort.

If you have been affected by any form of pregnancy loss, including loss through abortion, we’re here for you. Click here to contact our helpline.

The post Baby Loss Awareness Week – Together We Care appeared first on Life.

Esther Bird, a Support Worker for the new Life House, says: 

“I’m super excited to be involved in the opening of a new Life House in Littlehampton. It’s fantastic that we have this opportunity to offer support to more women and children from the local area.  

“I’m really looking forward to working alongside Star Community Housing and the rest of the Life team to make the house a safe and welcoming home for those that need it and hope it becomes a place where positive steps forward can be taken and good memories can be made.” 

As a Community Interest Company (CIC), Star Community Housing provides accommodation solutions for individuals with complex needs, working alongside support providers to deliver each  client’s unique package.  

Life shares Star Community Housing’s passion for providing personal care and support to all clients and residents, for example the life skills training given by Support Workers and Volunteers, including things like mental health, parenting, education and community connections (for example building confidence in taking a toddler to the park). All of this is possible thanks to the charity’s generous donors and fundraisers. 

Karen Proudlock, Director of Housing for Life, says, “I’m so pleased that we are able to open another Life House in this area. The community and volunteers around our first Littlehampton Life House are so supportive and have made a difference to so many mothers’ and babies’ lives already. We just know this house is going to be well supported so that many families can learn to thrive here. 

“Our mission as a charity is to create a world where no one faces pregnancy or pregnancy loss alone, and the coming together of so many people with the help of Star Community Housing is a brilliant example of how we can all be a part of creating a better world.” 

This is a moment of celebration not just for Life and Star Community Housing, but also for those who have supported Life’s work, and for every woman and child that will  benefit from staying in the Littlehampton Life House, now and in the future. 

Read more about what our Life Houses mean to our clients here. Thank you so much to everyone who is a part of this. 

Pictured: Hannah Millard (Life Area Services Manager) Francesca Silvestri (Life Area Services Coordinator) Esther Bird (Life Support Worker) Terry Locke and Sharon Dickins (Star Community Housing). 

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The number of abortions in England and Wales has reached a record high, with a quarter of a million abortions in a year, directly correlated with the cost-of-living crisis. The financial climate makes it more difficult than ever to have children, with recent studies by BPAS finding that financial factors influenced the decision to have an abortion for six in ten women.

Life supports women who are experiencing traumatic circumstances who become unexpectedly pregnant. They could be facing homelessness, experiencing domestic abuse, or simply living below the poverty line and unable to provide for themselves.

Kerry Smart, Life CEO, said, “It is a tragedy that so many women in the most unimaginable of circumstances are facing unexpected pregnancy without the proper support they need.

“We’re launching our Emergency Appeal to assist women in crisis who find themselves unexpectedly pregnant and need support with life-changing decisions. We provide a counselling and skilled listening service which gives a safe space for women to explore and express their feelings, fears, and anxieties. We help women talk through all of their pregnancy options – abortion, parenthood, and adoption – and what these might mean for them. And we help with removing unnecessary barriers to continuing the pregnancy with our non-directive support.

“Emily, one of the thousands of women we helped last year, says: ‘I’m so grateful that I got Life’s help, and for Gemma, my Support Worker, who is like a mother and at the same time a friend. You listen without judgment and provide a safe place. I was afraid while pregnant and abandoned by my child’s father how I would be able to provide for my child and have a future. But the help and donations from supporters have given me hope for the future. I cannot thank you all enough.’

“In addition to helping Emily and her child, here’s the positive difference Life made last year thanks to our generous supporters:

• We supported an estimated 1,045 women to have their children when they may have felt this was not an option for them.
• We counselled 5,733 people who needed someone to listen. As they consider their options, they are surrounded by acceptance and a safe place to explore their emotions.
• We housed 171 women (and their children) who were homeless or unsupported. This means that, at the moment of decision and the transition into parenthood, we are there to help them flourish as a mother.

“We ask you to stand now with the women we support. Join the team creating a world where no one faces unexpected pregnancy alone.”

The post Pregnancy support charity Life launches Emergency Appeal to assist women in unexpected pregnancies during cost-of-living crisis appeared first on Life.

Kerry Smart, Life CEO, said:

“Life is a national pregnancy support charity creating a world where no one faces pregnancy or pregnancy loss alone. Our person-centred online pregnancy listening service was inspired by the Samaritans and is non-coercive and non-judgmental. The charity is an associate member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and adheres to their ethical guidelines.

“Here’s what we’ve heard from some of our 178,834 clients in the last 2.5 years, who tell our story better than we can:

• ‘All I have received from you is acceptance, listening, and care. The words thank you does not seem anything in comparison for what you have done for me but Thank you.’ (2022)
• ‘It’s wonderful to have a charity that is there to support all women whenever they need it.’ (2022)
• ‘I never once felt judged by the Helpliner. They just accepted me and where I was at.’ (2020)
• ‘If it wasn’t for that kind, compassionate, and sympathetic message I received from one of your workers when I was pregnant and in a vulnerable position, I wouldn’t have the beautiful, bright, and happy 17-month-old little girl I have today. Thank you so much for the incredible work you do.’ (2020)

“Transparency is important to us, so people using our listening services are told that we do not refer for abortion or give information on abortion providers. This adheres to ASA guidance. We are also displayed on Google as not providing abortions.

“Anybody who’s facing pregnancy or pregnancy loss – including considering an abortion or who has had an abortion – can use our services. We advertise so that anyone who would like to use our services can do so.

“We support measures that will reduce the rate of unplanned pregnancy, increase support and services so that women and their children can thrive, improve adoption access, and make British society more child- and parent-friendly. This provides other options than abortion and expands rather than restricts women’s choices. No matter your opinion on abortion, we can all work together to create this world. This should be the conversation we are having around abortion.

“If clients wish to explore medical topics, we inform – not advise – using NHS information in skilled listening sessions. As a pregnancy support charity, we have no intention to give out incorrect or misleading information. We make no comment on specific organisations’ materials. We agree that attempts to mislead or give false information are wrong.

“In 2022, we were awarded the Trusted Charity Mark by the NCVO in recognition of our excellence as one of the UK’s largest pregnancy support charities.”

Notes to editors

• Life’s terms of service for clients – https://lifecharity.org.uk/our-services/pregnancy-matters/terms-of-service/
• Life’s impact – https://lifecharity.org.uk/impact/

The post Life statement on our services appeared first on Life.

As part of its Baby Loss Matters Programme which runs in about 250 churches countrywide, Life will send over 100 care packages to churches and hospitals, to be distributed to women who have experienced early pregnancy loss. An early pregnancy loss happens from conception up to 12 weeks and is where care providers struggle the most to offer substantial support. Included in the packages are facemasks, hair conditioners, cosy socks, tea bags and chocolate bars, a remembrance candle, testimonies from women who have experienced baby loss and information about Life’s support helpline.  

Life Baby Loss Matters Coordinator Hannah Batten said, ”The care packages are being introduced in response to NHS services being squeezed and many women who lose their baby in early miscarriage being told they are not able to access support services. One lady from Slough reported that she miscarried her baby at 7 weeks and was denied access to the Early Pregnancy Unit at the local hospital because she was “not pregnant enough.” When she called a few weeks later as she was struggling emotionally, she asked to speak to the grief midwife but was told “We don’t allow that for early pregnancy loss, the grief midwife only deals with the bigger ones.” Sadly this situation is fairly common and hundreds of women every day leave hospitals with no support; sent home to hide their grief in silence. As we heard in the personal story of the Duchess of Sussex recently, women who may appear happy and normal actually grieve silently for their lost baby. Yet they are expected to go back to work, care for existing children and carry on with life as if nothing is wrong. 

Our care packages are designed to be taken home by women, to encourage them to take time for themselves to process their emotions and to contact us whenever they feel ready to talk. The silence surrounding miscarriage, and society’s expectation that women should “get on with it” is what makes reaching out for help, so hard for them. No matter what gestation a baby is lost, every woman should have access to the support she needs to find healing.” 

The care packages are being distributed at churches and hospitals in Luton, Leicester, Reading, Watford and London. This year Baby Loss Matters is partnering with a community project, Promise of Hope, which is distributing care packages to the same hospitals but for parents with babies in the NICU. The Promise of Hope packages are designed to provide hope and point parents in need of support, to Life’s support services. 

If you are a church or care provider who would like to be part of our initiative in supporting women and families following the loss of a baby at any stage, then you can sign up for our free care packages and memorial literature on our website: https://babylossmatters.lifecharity.org.uk/churches/

The post Life offers support to mothers who experience baby loss appeared first on Life.

Mrs Ward, a midwife for 36 years and a school governor for 26 years, has also spent over three decades volunteering for Life. During the 1990s she was involved in fundraising and running a Life Pregnancy Care centre in Burton.  She has worked with other volunteers and local agencies to provide baby clothing and additional supplies to local mothers and babies. Mrs Ward and her husband John have also been working at the Derby Life Charity Shop since she retired five years ago.

Mrs Ward said:

“Whatever I have done, either during my working life or as voluntary work, I have always been grateful for the people around me, we are a team trying to work together. My greatest support has been from my husband John and son and daughter, I thank them so much. I would encourage anyone to get involved in some way with voluntary work and to show commitment to a cause you believe in because every day volunteers do make a difference.”

Life’s Director of Advocacy Liz Parsons said “For five decades, volunteers like Anne and John Ward have enabled our charity to provide much needed support to those facing pregnancy or pregnancy loss. Their love and respect their desire to help make the lives of other people better, demonstrate this charity’s caring and compassionate ethos. Volunteers like Anne and John are the heart and soul of Life and we cannot begin to thank them for their service.

We are delighted that Anne Ward has been recognised at the highest level for her selfless community work. We encourage others to follow her example and join Life and other organisations which are working to make a difference to the lives of the most vulnerable in our society.”

The post Life congratulates longstanding volunteer in Burton for her Queen’s award appeared first on Life.

Ms Miller’s 10-minute-rule bill, the Pregnancy and Maternity (Redundancy Protection) Bill seeks to prohibit employers from making women redundant from the time they are pregnant to 6 months after they return to work from maternity leave. The only exceptions would be that the business is closing down or ceasing work in that area.

Life’s Director of Advocacy Liz Parsons said “We know from dealing directly with thousands of pregnant women and new mothers how anxious they are about possibly losing their job. In any modern working environment, pregnancy and motherhood should be celebrated without women having to worry about loss of employment.

The fact is however, that current laws do not go far enough to protect women and employers are able to work around the regulations to make these women redundant. In a study last year by The Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy, 1 in 9 women said they had been fired or made redundant when they returned to work after having a child, or were treated so badly they felt forced out of their job. The same research estimates 54,000 women a year may lose their jobs due to pregnancy or maternity. We now believe that this figure could be much worse as a result of Covid-19. The Equality and Human Rights Commission estimates that  pregnancy and maternity-related discrimination costs women between £47 million and £113 million each year.

We recognise that 10-minute-rule bills rarely pass if they do not get Government support. We therefore call on the Government to fully back Ms Miller’s bill in order to protect pregnant women and new mothers from discrimination in the workplace.”

The post Support protection for pregnant women and new mothers appeared first on Life.

The perinatal service is designed to complement NHS services, by offering specialised counselling and support to parents whose children have been diagnosed with conditions in the womb such as Anencephaly, Trisomy 13 and Trisomy 18. The service was launched on Wednesday as part of Life NI’s new befriending initiative which expands the Pregnancy Matters ongoing counselling and support services.  A “befriender” is there to offer a listening ear, to help extend social networks, develop skills and confidence, and offer support with education and career opportunities.

For the past 40 years Life NI has been providing practical and emotional support to mothers facing unexpected pregnancy, or those coming to terms with pregnancy loss, miscarriage and still-birth. Life Link Two, located in East Belfast, provides supported housing for single mums and their babies, to improve the health and well-being of these vulnerable young families.

Life NI Regional Manager Joanne Doak said “We are excited to launch our perinatal service and Befriending Initiative. Our long anticipated launch event was a huge success and we’d like to thank everyone who attended. Pregnancy Matters exists to support women and their families in times of need, and the expansion of this service will change the lives of countless families.”

Head of Life’s Pregnancy Matters Service Liz Lloyd said ““This service complements the already excellent services offered by our dedicated Pregnancy Matters team. Having so many professionals in the form of midwives, health visitors, social workers attending the launch was very encouraging. We are passionate about supporting people who are in need of our services.”

The post Life NI launches service for families of babies with life limiting conditions appeared first on Life.

The house is part of Life’s Pregnancy Matters service, which offers counselling, a place to live and practical support for women in crisis pregnancies and all those affected by pregnancy loss. Northampton’s help will mean the world of difference for the women housed there and their babies.

Carpets and blinds for the redecoration were supplied by Councillor Penny Flavell with the assistance of her Empowerment Fund. Local staff from Nationwide’s People and Development team helped to complete the redecoration as part of their Citizenship Day. Following their own successful fundraising drive for the House at various Nationwide sites, they helped out on site with painting, putting up shelving, and doing huge improvement work at the front and back of the House.

Ellen Rufus, Pregnancy Matters Support Worker for the Northampton House, said, “The house feels so much more homely. The team from Nationwide were amazing – they did all they came to do and more. They even offered to come back when the weather is warmer to do some more painting outside!” Ellen also extended her appreciation to the Councillor and for her assistance.

Gordon Reed, Nationwide’s People and Development team leader, said “It’s been a fabulous opportunity to make a difference and help someone else. It has opened our eyes to what services are provided in the community and what help services need in order to continue and be able to provide what they do.”

Councillor Flavell also extended her appreciation to Life for their work, saying, “It’s a marvellous charity. The help it gives to these girls, when they are in most need, is just wonderful.”

Life is one of the largest providers of supported accommodation for homeless pregnant women and mothers in the country, with more than twenty houses. These houses offer accommodation, life-skills training, support and counselling to vulnerable women before and after they have given birth to their baby.

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