Baby Loss Awareness Week 9-15 October 2024
Together, we care
2024 marks the 22nd year of Baby Loss Awareness Week in the UK.
Throughout Baby Loss Awareness Week we want to create a space for you to share and feel supported, whatever your experience of loss may be, about how you’ve coped, what helped (and what didn’t) so we can all learn how to better look after each other as a community and know how to get the right kind of support when we need it.
Those affected by pregnancy and baby loss tell us how important it is that they each find a way to remember their experience in a way that suits them. Some join with others at special services organised by their local hospital or a local support organisation, some find solace in events organised by their faith community while others will remember alone in a way unique to them.
It is important to remember there is no right or wrong way, and it can change as the years pass too.
Together, we care.
Baby Loss Awareness Week is always an emotional week. It can stir those feelings you thought you had dealt with but it also acts as a reminder to me of how resilient we are as one. No one wants to be a part of this club, but here we all are, using our experiences of heartache to empower one another and to offer a glimmer of hope to those who so desperately need it.- Kerri
How you can support Baby Loss Awareness Week
There are several ways that you can support Baby Loss Awareness Week, whether publicly or privately but it is important to remember that this week may be challenging for anyone affected by pregnancy or baby loss, including ectopic pregnancy. Please be gentle with yourself and look after your needs. We will provide self-care tips to help you through the week and you are welcome to participate or take some space from posts as you wish.
Wave of Light
The week culminates, as always, with Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day on 15 October and the poignant global Wave of Light at 7pm. During this wave of light, we remember the babies that have died during pregnancy, at, during or after birth by lighting a candle at 7pm and leaving it to burn for at least one hour. You can also choose to share your candle on our social media channels, if you so wish. However you choose to mark your loss, you will be uniting with others across the world in honour of those pregnancies and babies who lit up our lives for such a short time and we hope this event can bring some comfort.
Wear your Baby Loss Awareness Pin Badge
The Baby Loss Awareness Pin Badge is available in our shop. This badge is shared by all of the Baby Loss Awareness Campaign collaborating charities and not-for-profit organisations.
Whether worn on your top, bag, work lanyard or even dog lead this pin badge raises awareness, starts conversations and is a gentle reminder to anyone that see’s your badge that they are not alone in their journey after pregnancy or baby loss.
Our attractive EPT purple five-pointed badge helps to raise awareness of the charity.
We would love to see how you wear yours and you are welcome to tag us in your photo’s across social media (see below for links to our platforms).
Share your words of comfort and healing
We would like to share some short clips and content of what you feel is important for others to know about helping someone who has experienced an ectopic pregnancy. Topics are as follows:
- What would you say to someone that is struggling/has recently experienced an ectopic pregnancy?
- If you experienced ectopic pregnancy, what did you do to look after your wellbeing?
We also welcome videos or words submitted by partners, friends, family, couples, or healthcare professionals. I have also attached an example video if this helps.
All videos/words can be emailed to kerri@ectopic.org.uk.
Your personal stories help raise awareness of the impacts surrounding ectopic pregnancy loss and help others to understand that they are not alone. If you would like to share your own story on our website, you can find out more on our blog.
Commemoration and Remembrance
As ectopic pregnancy occurs in early pregnancy, often prior to 12 weeks, there can be so little tangible to remember our losses by. Some people choose to create their own unique ways to commemorate their pregnancies, losses, and what could have been.
Marking loss and important dates might not be for everyone. Whether or not to choose to do something is personal, just as each individual’s experiences, grief, and reactions are unique. Above all, do what feels right for you and know that we are here to support you.
You can choose a virtual tulip to “plant” in the EPT’s Treasured Tulips gardens on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You can see and visit your Tulip wherever and whenever you wish and can dedicate a Tulip for yourself or for someone else.
Our adorable plush EPT teddy bear is now available to purchase on our online shop and makes a meaningful keepsake for anyone affected by pregnancy loss.
The bear comes with a certificate of commemoration which can be personalised by us with your name(s) and date(s) of importance. Please add a note when placing your order with the information you would like included. Alternatively, we can send the certificate blank for you to complete as you wish.
We are here to help
Sharing and reading experiences of pregnancy loss can be overwhelming.
It is important to remember that taking time away from social media to practice self-care can be beneficial. Switching off from content that may be difficult can allow you the space to explore your own feelings. Whether you choose to unplug entirely or prefer to mute certain accounts/feeds, we have some tips to help you in our guide to unplugging
One of our volunteers, Kirstie, guides you through some simple breathing techniques to help if you are feeling overwhelmed.
Our support services are here to offer you a safe space to express yourself or explore your emotions. These are available to anyone who has experienced an ectopic pregnancy as well as partners and wider family members and friends.
Baby loss awareness week partners
Each year our partners join to support bereaved families to raise awareness of baby loss and campaign for the provision of better bereavement care.
BLAW working group members:
- Sands – https://www.sands.org.uk/
- The Lullaby Trust – https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/
- Bliss – https://www.bliss.org.uk/
- The Miscarriage Association – https://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/
- Tommy’s – https://www.tommys.org/