Baby Loss Awareness Week – Together We Care

From 9 – 15 October Life will be marking Baby Loss Awareness Week in the UK.

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.