Baby Loss Awareness Week (9–15 October 2026) is a time for remembrance, reflection, and action. It is an opportunity to come together in support of families who have experienced baby loss – to honour every life, however brief, and to raise awareness of the care, compassion, and understanding that bereaved parents deserve.
In the UK, there were 2,612 stillbirths in 2023, and miscarriages are estimated to occur in between 110,000 and 156,000 pregnancies in England and Wales each year, though many are not formally recorded. Thousands of families each year face the devastation of baby loss and are left with painful, unanswered questions, such as “Could our loss have been prevented?”, “Did we do anything wrong?” and “Was everything possible done to protect our baby’s life and wellbeing?”
If you have found yourself asking these questions, you are not alone, and it is completely understandable to seek answers. Every parent has the right to understand what happened and to be supported with dignity, clarity, and compassion throughout that process.
Your right to answers after baby loss
When you experience baby loss, you are entitled to open, honest, and timely information about the circumstances. Even when you do not suspect negligence, having clarity about what went wrong can help with emotional healing and give you confidence in future pregnancies.
You have the right to:
- Receive a clear, compassionate explanation of what is known so far about your baby’s death.
- Ask whether a hospital review, serious incident investigation, or internal mortality review is being carried out.
- Be involved, where possible, in any investigations or reviews.
- Request access to both your own medical records and your baby’s records.
- Be kept informed of updates or changes as investigations progress.
- Seek a second opinion or further explanation if reports seem incomplete or unclear.
These rights apply whether or not you believe negligence occurred. They are part of your entitlement to information, dignity, and respect during one of the most awful experiences anyone can endure.
The Baby Loss Certificate: recognition and validation
In February 2024, the UK government introduced an optional baby loss certificate for pregnancy losses before 24 weeks. These certificates are not legal documents, but they formally acknowledge a pregnancy loss and aim to provide bereaved parents with recognition and validation.
The certificate applies to losses from 1 September 2018 onwards and is available to bereaved parents in England. Applications can be made via the government’s official portal, using NHS or local details (such as your GP postcode) and, if desired, including both parents’ names.
It represents a compassionate step towards recognising the emotional significance of early loss.
For more information, you can read our article: Baby Loss Certificates – A Compassionate Move in the Right Direction.
Your rights in respect of post-loss care
Whatever the cause of your loss, every parent deserves dignified, compassionate care afterwards. You have the right to:
- Spend private time with your baby in a quiet, comfortable environment.
- Create keepsakes (photographs, footprints, memory boxes) without feeling rushed.
- Be fully informed about registering the death, funeral or memorial options, and legal formalities.
- Access bereavement midwives, counselling, pastoral or faith support, and specialist services.
- Receive empathy, sensitivity, and continuity of care in follow-up appointments and future pregnancies.
If you feel your post-loss care was inadequate – for example, if you felt rushed, poorly informed, or denied emotional support – you have the right to raise your concerns. In England, you can contact PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service) or your hospital’s complaints department.
When to seek advice on medical negligence
Sometimes baby loss happens despite excellent care. But in other instances, errors, delays, or missed opportunities in monitoring, diagnosis, or intervention may contribute to a tragic outcome.
You may wish to seek advice from a solicitor specialising in medical negligence if:
- Your concerns during pregnancy or labour were not listened to or acted upon.
- There were delays in diagnosing complications (such as pre-eclampsia, infection, or foetal distress).
- Established protocols or national guidelines were not followed.
- Communication between staff broke down, leading to avoidable harm.
Contacting a legal specialist doesn’t mean you’re looking for someone to blame – it means seeking understanding, accountability, and helping to improve maternity safety for others.
Protecting your rights with compassionate support
A solicitor experienced in baby loss and maternity medical negligence will understand how emotionally difficult this journey can be. The right professional will:
- Listen carefully and respectfully.
- Explain legal terms and processes in plain language.
- Guide you through next steps at your own pace.
- Handle sensitive information with care and confidentiality.
- Help you find the answers you are looking for.
If you do proceed, compensation (where applicable) can help with counselling, loss of earnings, or costs tied to future care. More importantly, pursuing a claim can help ensure lessons are learned and standards improved.
Taking Care of Yourself
Having support networks in place can really help to cope following baby loss, and this is even more important if you suspect there was negligence involved. There’s no right answer to accessing support, but some of the routes our clients have taken include:
- Talking with other bereaved parents through support groups such as Sands, Tommy’s, or The Lullaby Trust.
- Speaking with family and friends – baby loss is often seen as a taboo subject, but many couples have experienced it in some way.
- Accessing counselling or therapy focused on grief.
- Seeking pastoral or faith-based support, if meaningful to you.
- Allowing yourself space, time, and permission to grieve in your own way.
If you ever feel overwhelmed, please reach out – you do not have to walk this path alone.
If you or a loved one has been affected by baby loss, contact one of our specialist medical negligence solicitors for confidential and compassionate advice.