Baby Loss Awareness Week is marked annually on the 9-15 October, supporting bereaved parents and families to commemorate their babies’ lives.
The week, which is supported by over 100 charities, is also a time for midwives, MSWs and other healthcare professionals to reflect on the impact of baby loss on themselves, an event which can be traumatic.
To mark the 23rd annual Baby Loss Awareness Week and commemorate all babies who have died too soon, the globally-recognised Wave of Light is happening on Wednesday 15th October at 7pm. SANDS, the UK’s leading pregnancy and baby loss charity, is marking the event with a candle lighting on Facebook Live. You can join the Wave of Light by either tuning in or lighting your own candle at 7pm local time, leaving it to burn for at least one hour. Each light helps to illuminate the memory of those babies who lit up lives for a short time. To learn more about the Wave of Light movement, and to access support from SANDS, follow the links below.
Baby Loss Awareness Week has also marked improved support for bereavement care in Wales. At the beginning of the week, the Welsh Government announced the extension of baby loss bereavement care support, which they say “demonstrates the Welsh Government’s commitment to bereavement care for families during their most difficult times, ensuring all bereaved parents in Wales have access to compassionate, consistent support when they need it most”.
The £35,000 investment, which covers miscarriage, termination of pregnancy for foetal anomaly, stillbirth, neonatal death and sudden unexpected death in infancy, is hoped to enable SANDS to continue supporting the delivery of essential care. Pathways are planned to be developed to support access to counselling, memory-making opportunities, information booklets and online resources tailored to different types of loss.
Furthermore, new standards in bereavement care for pregnancy and baby loss, which have been developed in consultation with bereaved parents and healthcare professionals, are due to be published shortly, underpinning the comprehensive picture of NHS Wales bereavement care.
Health secretary Jeremy Miles said that “this funding ensures that bereaved families across Wales will continue to receive the high-quality bereavement care they deserve during their most difficult moments”.
Additionally, a general debate on baby loss took place in the House of Commons Chamber on 13 October. The debate, now an annual occurrence, is an opportunity to call on MPs for action on maternity safety and bereavement care.
The Royal College of Midwives has written several blogs over the past few years on the topic of Baby Loss Awareness Week. See below for a selection of articles created for midwives on the topic of baby loss and bereavement care:
Heather Bower, the Royal College of Midwives Head of Midwifery Education, wrote a blog on the National Bereavement Care Pathway (NBCP), which was led by SANDS who collaborated with organisations including the RCM to develop nine standards of care and five pathways to care.
11 October 2022
RCM Cymru has welcomed the introduction of baby loss certificates for parents in Wales who have experienced the loss of a baby before 24 weeks.
13 October 2025
RCM Cymru Director Julie Richards and Head of Bereavement Care & Hospital Liaison Marc Harder at the baby loss charity Sands have co-wrote a blog for Baby Loss Awareness Week 2023.
13 October 2023
For Rainbow Baby Awareness Week, Rachel Burn, Media Relations Officer at the Royal College of Midwives, shares her personal story of pregnancy after loss – and the vital role her bereavement midwife played in helping her navigate it.
18 August 2025
The loss of a baby can be immensely traumatic for families, communities, midwives and healthcare professionals. To access support, please see the top of the article for resources from SANDS.
