Baby Loss Awareness Week 2018
At Wolferstans we are very proud to be supporting Baby Loss Awareness Week 2018. Every year thousands of people in the UK are affected by the death of a baby or experience pregnancy loss.
Sadly we act for a number of parents suffering the loss of their baby, with an estimated 50% of stillbirths being avoidable.
Unfortunately the death of a baby is not a rare event, and it can happen to anyone. Although this is a thought no expectant parent wishes to consider, it is ever more important that awareness is raised.
Baby Loss Awareness Week takes place between 9 – 15 October each year, and it sees a collaboration between more than 60 charities across the UK, all aiming to raise awareness about the key issues affecting those who have experienced pregnancy loss or baby death in the UK.
Throughout the week bereaved parents, their families and friends, unite with each other and others across the world to commemorate the lives of babies who died during pregnancy, at or soon after birth and in infancy.
Now in its 16th year, Baby Loss Awareness Week calls for tangible improvements in research, care and policy around bereavement support, and highlights bereavement support and services available for anyone affected by the death of a baby at any stage.
Our medical negligence team are taking part in a number of initiatives to help raise awareness of baby loss and to support bereaved parents.
We work closely with Little Things and Co, who are a charity going from strength to strength in their bid to support grieving families. Already the sponsors of their Safe Haven support group, we will also be attending the Wave of Light remembrance service at their Little Haven baby garden at Derriford Hospital. We hope to support families who have been affected by baby loss. In advance of the ceremony, our team will be visiting the garden to tidy it up and make sure each baby’s memorial is perfectly prepared.
Little Things and Co have also been fundamental in arranging for various landmarks in Plymouth to be lit up in pink and blue, to remember those babies taken too soon. We are looking forward too visiting the various locations, taking the time to remember those babies ourselves. Follow us on Twitter @MedNeg_Wolfies to see us on our tour around Plymouth.
We are also proud to have been part of the development of two leaflets for both Little Things and Co in relation to life after baby loss, but also Ava’s Fund, another superb charity making real inroads in their mission to reduce the stillbirth rates in the South West, whilst also supporting families suffering from the loss of a baby. Ava’s Fund is a young charity, started just over two years ago following the loss of baby Ava. We are delighted to be part of the development of their leaflet to help with the continued development of the charity. Both leaflets will be available in various locations across the South West and we hope that it will help to either prevent the stillbirth rates or if the worst happens, to support parents affected by baby loss.
During Baby Loss Awareness Week the medical negligence team will also be wearing our baby loss awareness ribbons, with the donation to the pins going directly to Group B Strep Support. Group B Strep Support are a charity working to stop Group B Strep infections in babies, which currently lead to life threatening infections if not identified and treated appropriately.
Finally, another charity who have been influential in their support for parents affected by baby loss are The Legacy of Leo, who host a Baby Loss Hour every Tuesday at 8pm. We take part in the hour each week, and it is astonishing to see the amount of support that Jess provides to so many grieving families. Throughout Baby Loss Awareness Week, the Baby Loss Hour will be hosting an hour a high from 8pm – 9pm covering various topics, during a week that will be even more challenging for families across the UK. Follow @TheLegacyOfLeo on Twitter or search the BabyLossHour to join in on the discussion.
It is clear that social media is going to be providing support nationwide throughout the week, so please do follow the hash tags #BLAW2018 or #babyloss #BabyLossAwarenessWeek or follow our tweets throughout the week.
The impact on families following the loss of a baby is devastating and Wolferstans are supporting Baby Loss Awareness Week.