As we mark Baby Loss Awareness Week we are delighted to be supporting the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society (Sands) as part of our ‘Life After Baby Loss’ campaign to continue to help bereaved parents and encourage improvements in the NHS.
This year marks the 16th anniversary of the annual awareness week and is an opportunity to break the silence around pregnancy and baby loss.
It forms part of an ongoing campaign for improvements in research, care and policy around aftercare for bereaved families, led by Sands with a collaboration of over 60 charities.
Sands, is a charity operating throughout the UK to provide help and support for bereaved parents and families. They strive to improve the care available for grieving parents and promote research to reduce the loss of babies’ lives.
The charity was founded 40 years ago and has been offering support to families affected by baby death since.
Their work and support is very important and they are one of the many charities Hudgell Solicitors supports, with the firm establishing close ties to the Hull branch.
The work Sands do to help families understand the reasons for their child’s passing is something I feel very passionate about.
In the Hull and East Yorkshire area the charity has funded a bereavement midwife’s role, campaigning diligently for 18 months for this role prior to its inception.
I have also been pleased to learn that over the past few weeks, a second bereavement midwife has also been appointed. This is a positive step in the area for families who experience the heartache of losing a baby.
Baby Loss Awareness Week aims to increase awareness a ribbon at a time.
My colleagues and I will be wearing the ribbon pin badge to support those families affected by this sad issue. We have also made the pins available to anyone visiting our office locations in Hull, Leeds and London. We will also be fundraising through our dress down Friday event.
I would encourage you to purchase a pin, to enable the charities to continue their important work.
The event concludes with a wave of light to remember all the babies gone too soon with the lighting of a candle. Iconic buildings will be also be illuminated around the UK in pink and blue as part of the global wave of light.
In Hull, the City Hall will be illuminated and there is an event on Sunday, 14 October at 6.30pm on the Hessle Foreshore. Those in attendance will be provided with a pink or blue torch which they will shine into the darkness.
Tragically baby loss impacts thousands in the UK each year. This annual campaign is a positive step in breaking the silence and raises awareness for families in need of support.
However, much more is needed to tackle the issues surrounding stillbirths and neonatal death in the UK.
Baby Loss Awareness Week highlights the available services for those impacted by the death of a baby at any stage.
The event also provides an opportunity for bereaved families to come together and remember the lives of babies who sadly passed away during pregnancy, birth or in infancy.
Visit Hull SANDS and Wave-Light for more information.
