Baby loss is life-changing, and for many parents, the grief is unimaginable. While nothing can truly erase the pain, there is a wide range of support available through charities and organisations that help families find solace, connect with others who understand their loss and raise awareness to prevent future tragedies.
Baby Loss Awareness Week (BLAW) shines a vital light on these experiences, encouraging open and honest conversations about baby loss and highlighting the importance of support, ensuring that no one has to grieve alone.
This year’s theme, “Together, We Care” reflects the shared commitment of charities, healthcare professionals, and legal specialists. At Enable Law, we are proud to support those affected by baby loss through our specialist baby loss team.
Types of baby loss and charities offering support
The journey after baby loss is long and complex, but it does not have to be travelled alone. Alongside the legal and practical steps, parents can find emotional support through counselling, remembrance services, and peer communities.
Stillbirth and neonatal death
The birth of a stillborn baby is a heart-breaking event, often compounded by questions of what might have been done differently. A stillbirth is the birth of a baby who is born without signs of life after 24 weeks of pregnancy. Causes of stillbirth include placental problems, infections, and umbilical cord accidents, many of which can be identified and managed with appropriate prenatal care.
Neonatal death is the death of a baby with the first 28 days of their life. This is often a result of premature birth, birth defects, or infection. If the cause is unknown, an inquest may be held to investigate what happened.
Sands (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Charity) is a leading charity offering extensive support for parents, siblings, and grandparents dealing with baby loss. Sands also funds research aimed at improving prenatal care to reduce stillbirths. Their services include a free helpline, memory boxes, and local support groups.
Tommy’s also plays a vital role by funding research aimed at improving prenatal care, reducing neonatal deaths, and providing direct support through their pregnancy line, which offers advice after baby loss.
In Plymouth and South East Cornwall, Pregnancy Crisis Care offers practical and emotional support to mothers and their partners experiencing pregnancy difficulties and baby loss. They provide online and in person counselling sessions, to help those struggling with a range of mental health issues such as, shock, trauma, fear, anxiety, PTSD and complex grief.
Towards Tomorrow Together supports families based in Somerset and Bristol. This includes supporting those who have or are likely to suffer a loss, and specialised support for families navigating subsequent pregnancies. The charity offers a range of services from memory boxes, holistic therapies, doula support, advocacy, 1:1 support, support groups, family events and days out, and an annual memorial service.
Daddys with Angels focuses on providing support specifically for fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and other male family members affected by baby loss. Founded to fill a gap in support for bereaved men, Daddys with Angels offers peer support groups and online forums.
Ectopic pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilised egg implants outside the womb, usually in a fallopian tube. It is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition for the mother and requires prompt treatment.
The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust offer support for those who have suffered an ectopic pregnancy, providing resources to understand the condition and seek help during recovery. Their work also extends to ensuring that medical professionals are educated on the signs and risks associated with ectopic pregnancies.
Miscarriage
A miscarriage is the loss of a baby before 24 weeks of pregnancy, often discovered during a routine scan. It can come as a sudden and devastating shock.
Aching Arms provides support for those affected by miscarriage and all forms of baby loss. Their Comfort Bears are in hospitals all over the country, donated in the name of a baby who has died as a symbol of shared understanding. They also provide a support service and various online support groups for mums and dads.
Birth trauma
Birth trauma is when a mother suffers a physical injury such as a tear, fracture or nerve damage, and/or psychological trauma from giving birth. This trauma can have lasting effects, particularly when the focus is on the new baby, or when parents are also coping with the loss of their child.
For parents recovering from birth trauma, Petals is a charity that offers counselling services specifically for those affected by pregnancy related trauma and baby loss. Petals recognises that mental health is profoundly impacted by such experiences and works to provide tailored support for those in need.
How we can help
The pain of losing a child is immense and something that no parent expects to happen to them. Wanting to understand and obtain answers as to what happened and why it happened is natural, and is extremely important to all the families. At Enable Law, we can help you find those answers and also fight with you to bring about change to ensure that lessons are learnt for the future. We understand the pain and loss parents are suffering will impact them for the rest of their lives, and no amount of financial compensation will solve this but for some families, investigating a baby loss claim, sharing their story, and improving care is an essential part of re-building their lives.
To have a free, confidential discussion with a member of our dedicated team call us today on 0800 044 8488 or fill in our contact form so we can get in touch with you at a time convenient for you.
