Publish date: 15 October 2024
Baby Loss Awareness Week is held annually from 9 to 15 October. It’s a special opportunity to mark the lives of babies lost in pregnancy or at or soon after birth.
While this week can be a special time of remembrance, the increase in social media activity around pregnancy and baby loss can understandably feel overwhelming for some. Do take some time out from social media during the week, if and whenever you need to.
Global Wave of Light will take place today, 15 October at 7pm. People around the world light a candle or candles at 7pm local time in memory of the baby or babies they have lost. Photos of these candles on social media create a wave of light that spreads across the globe. You can join this virtual wave of light by adding your photo on the night, with the hashtag #WaveofLight.
With some 250,000 miscarriages – one in four pregnancies – occurring in the UK each year, most workforces have colleagues that have been or may be affected. The behaviour and attitudes of colleagues can affect how well women and their partners cope with miscarriage and how soon they feel able to return to work, and compassionate support from management and colleague is key to colleagues feeling able to return to work.
The Women’s Network have been discussing this issue and have agreed that we would like to produce guidelines and advice for managers and colleagues to support those who have been or may be affected by miscarriage. If this is something you feel that you would like to contribute to the development of these guidelines, please contact the Chair of the Women’s Network Joanne Bull at joanne