Baby Loss Awareness Week 2024

Figures show that 1 in every 250 pregnancies ends in stillbirth in the UK. That is 8 babies every day. Stillbirths are deeply distressing  and, in some cases, can be the result of failures by healthcare professionals.

Some instances of this include:

• Inadequate monitoring of the baby during labour leading to a delay in performing a Caesarean Section.
• Mistakes made whilst performing a Caesarean Section.
• Lack of oxygen to a baby during birth.
• Improper treatment of Pre-Eclampsia which has developed through pregnancy.

In relation to Neonatal death (when a baby dies in the first 28 days of life), a study showed there were 2,131 neonatal deaths in the UK in 2018.

History of how Baby Loss Awareness Week started

This week marks the 22^nd year of Baby Loss Awareness Week. It is for giving space for parents to share their loss and feel supported.

In Britain, Baby Loss Awareness Day started on 15^th October 2002 and was created by a group of parents inspired by Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day in the USA. That day in the UK, parents who had suffered baby loss sold handmade blue and pink ribbon pins and raised several thousand pounds for UK organisations supporting bereaved parents.

The very first official ‘Wave of Light’ campaign service was held across UK in 2003 and was attended by representatives and members of charities and the ribbon pins were made and sold by bereaved parents.

The 2004 campaign was a collaboration between SANDS, the Miscarriage Association, the Ectopic Pregnancy Trust, ARC and Babyloss.com. The pins were commercially made and balloon releases were held in across Britain. They also held a secular service at the Royal Statistical Society in London and twenty events around the UK.

Since 2010, SANDS has played a key role for this week and since 2014 they have taken a lead role to promote it.

How can we support you 

Losing a baby is a traumatic event for any family, but most of all the baby’s parents. Help is available. Our team of experienced and sympathetic clinical negligence solicitors can help support and guide you and your family through the investigation process. Please contact us today.