Baby Loss Awareness Week 2025
This year marks the 22nd year of Baby Loss Awareness Week in the UK (9-15 October 2025) – an opportunity to raise awareness of the impact of pregnancy and baby loss; the importance that bereavement support plays in the ongoing bereavement journey; and of the vital work that is needed to improve pregnancy outcomes and to save babies’ lives.
Sadly, baby loss can happen in a number of ways, including the loss of a baby during pregnancy, the early ending of pregnancy for any reason including compassionate ending of pregnancy or the loss of baby during birth, the neonatal or the post-natal period. aby loss is often not spoken about openly; however, it is sadly more common than many people realise. For example, miscarriage sadly happens in approximately 20% of the pregnancies. Whilst you may feel alone and isolated in your experience, we promise you are not alone.
We also recognise that people experience additional and secondary losses, such as loss of hopes/dreams and expectations, loss of a peer group, maternity leave, future plans, and celebrations. These are really understandable losses and really important to acknowledge and bring compassion to.
This Baby Loss Awareness Week, colleagues in our Perinatal Trauma and Loss Service (PETALS) team are sharing a range of information and advice.
Different types of baby loss
People can sadly experience the loss of a baby for many different reasons. For example, this might include IVF that hasn’t worked out as hoped, recurring miscarriage, compassionate ending of a pregnancy for any reason (including medical reasons), during the birth or neonatal period, or the loss of a baby in the first two years of life.
Compassionate ending of Pregnancy for Medical Reasons (also known as TFMR)
Compassionate ending of pregnancy for medical reasons is a decision no parent should ever have to make. It often does not feel like a “choice” when faced with significant risk to the health of the baby or the birthing parent. There is no “right” or “wrong” in this incredibly difficult situation, yet parents who have experienced baby loss due to TFMR can often feel guilt and shame. Around 5,000 terminations occur for medical reasons every year in UK, but this is rarely spoken about due to the complex nature and feeling associated with it. If this is your experience, it's important to remember you have done the best you can, it is in an impossible situation, and you are not alone.
Growing around grief
Understandably, following the loss of the baby the grief can feel overwhelming, and feelings of grief can be triggered over and over again. Overtime, life grows around the grief and triggers may become less frequent. However, sometimes, such as on anniversaries, you may be taken right back int the place of pain. Just know that it is normal, it is understandable, and it will pass.
“Growing around grief” helps us understand grief. It does not go away, instead people’s lives grow around the grief. This means that while the intensity of the loss remains a constant presence, new experiences, relationships, and activities create space, allowing for moments of enjoyment and a meaningful future alongside the grief.
Baby loss and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Baby loss can lead to PTSD in different ways:
- Sudden loss can lead to difficulties in managing difficult emotions.
- Emergency procedures, hospitals admissions or complications can feel frightening and invasive.
- Seeing pregnant women, hearing birth announcements, attending baby showers, and seeing newborns can be triggering. This can lead to an avoidance of particular people, situations, or place. This leaves people feeling isolated and withdrawn.
- People may notice intrusive re-experiencing symptoms such as intrusive memories, flashbacks or nightmares that make people feel as if they are right back there, re-living the trauma.
- There may be some changes in a person’s mood and sense of self blame. There might be sense of guilt and hopelessness about the future.
Healing and coping
- Talking to loved ones and communicating your needs might be helpful.
- Remembering your baby: Memory boxes, planting a tree, painting stones, visiting the cemetery, and making anniversaries can be helpful.
- Bringing compassion to your grief and trauma, what would someone who cares about you dearly wish for you to understand in this situation?
- Grief can take time, what brings feeling of comfort and safety? What is around you that lifts you up, even just for moments? Nurturing yourself through self-care is especially important right now.
- Attending peer support and talking to others who have experienced baby loss can help with isolation.
- Professional help - sometimes, if people are feeling stuck in the grief and cannot build life around the grief over time or if people are distressed by intrusive flashbacks, seeking professional support like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) or trauma informed therapy can be helpful.
Available support
If you have experienced baby loss and are struggling, please know that there is support available. Below is a list of services that are available and can help support you:
- Perinatal Trauma and Loss Service (PETALS)
- NHS Talking Therapies
- Dad Matters
- Finding Rainbows
- Tommy’s
- SANDS
- TFMR Mamas
- Cradle Charity
- Lullaby Trust
- Miscarriage Association
- Miscarriage for Men
We recognise that baby loss can affect all communities but know that black communities are disproportionately affected by baby loss and may face additional barriers when looking for support.
SANDS have created a safe space for black parents, family members and others. Read more here: Support for Black communities | Sands - Saving babies' lives. Supporting bereaved families.
Bereavement Support - FIVEXMORE: They provide 1:1 support and bereavement counselling.
Wave of Light
Wave of Light is an opportunity to join with bereaved parents, families, and friends around the globe to commemorate all babies who sadly passed away soon. It takes place at 7pm on 15 October every year.
To join the global ‘Wave of Light’, simply light a candle at 7pm local time on 15 October and leave it burning for at least one hour. This can be done individually or in a group, at home or in a communal space. Wherever you do this, you will be joining a global ‘Wave of Light’ in memory of all the babies who lit up our lives for such a short time.
Post a photo of your candle to Facebook, X (formally Twitter) or Instagram using the hashtag #WaveOfLight.
