Baby loss awareness week 9 – 15 October 2024 #BLAW2024 marks the 22nd year of bringing a community together to share their stories and to provide support to families impacted by baby loss. The aim is to raise awareness and let those impacted know that they are not alone.
Losing a baby as a result of miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, stillbirth and neonatal death is traumatic and every year thousands of women, their partners and families go through baby loss and, all too often, alone.
Baby loss in the UK affects thousands of families, and every year causes them heartbreak and trauma. It is estimated that 1 in 4 pregnancies end in loss during pregnancy and approximately 60,000.00 babies are born prematurely each year.
The charities work towards providing a safe space for bereaved families to come together and raise awareness. They are working with the Government to make changes to the laws including providing women and their partners with the legal right to paid leave if their pregnancy ends before 24 weeks. In April 2020 the Government introduced paid parental leave for the loss of a baby after 24 weeks and this year we also saw the introduction of the baby loss certificate.
Ways to raise awareness
#BLAW works towards raising awareness and breaking the silence around baby loss.
How can you help?:
Wave of light
- 7pm on 15th October 2024 families across the world will light a candle “wave of light” and will leave the candle burning to remember all the babies who have died too soon.
- Share your candle on social media with the hashtag #waveoflight
Pink & blue lighting
- Light up local landmarks, businesses and homes in pink and blue.
Share on social media or with babyloss-awareness.org.
Purchase a badge
- Buy a pink & blue ribbon badge and take a picture
- Share a picture on social media with the hashtag #blaw2024.
Wear pink & blue
- Wear these colours and share a picture on social media.
Social media ribbon
- Add ribbons to your social media and websites.
- Download images from babyloss-awareness.org.
Charities/Resources:
- The Miscarriage Association helps to raise awareness and support women and families who have gone through the loss of a baby. They provide a free support helpline. 1 in 4 women will experience a miscarriage.
If you or a family/friend have experienced a miscarriage you can visit their website www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk or call their helpline on 01924 200 799.
- SANDS work towards reducing the number of babies dying and to ensure that anyone who has been impacted by the death of a baby receives care and support.
They provide a free helpline and online community and support networks throughout the country. Their website www.sands.org.uk
- Tommy’s are the largest charity in the UK who carry out research into the causes of miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth. Baby loss also included molar pregnancies, neonatal death, and ectopic pregnancies. www.tommys.org
- Aching Arms a charity which provides help and support through baby loss. www.achingarms.co.uk
- The lullaby Trust www.lullabytrust.org.uk
- Ickle Pickles this year is joining together with Sand’s to commemorate all babies. www.icklepickles.org
- Petals – a baby loss counselling charity, – which has just announced Olympic Swimming Champion Becky Adlington as an Ambassador www.petalscharity.org/
Our team at Davies and Partners Solicitors are supporting #BLAW and some of the medical negligence team will be lighting candles on 15 October 2024 to show our support.
Together let’s break the silence around baby loss and support to those bereaved parents and families.