WGPlus (Archive)

The sad loss of babies / children still happens for some on a daily basis

Babyloss Awareness Week is held annually from 09 – 15 October.  Involving 21 pregnancy & baby loss charities in the UK, it’s a special opportunity to mark the brief lives of babies lost in pregnancy or soon after birth.  The Miscarriage Association’s National Director, Ruth Bender Atik, takes a look at how we can improve experiences of care when loss occurs.

For many if not most women and their partners, a positive pregnancy test means a ‘baby’ – not ‘fetus’ or ‘embryo’, so if they experience a miscarriage, however early in the pregnancy, that is what they are losing, along with their hopes, plans and dreams for their future child.

Of course that’s not true for everyone – not every pregnancy is greeted with joy and for some miscarriage may come with a sense of relief – but for many, feelings of shock, loss and grief can hit them hard.

Researched Links:

NHS England:  Caring for patients with pregnancy loss

When Mother & baby are at their most vulnerable

NICE guidance recommends new tests to help rule-out pregnancy complication and avoid unnecessary hospital admissions

Kings Fund - Feedback from service users is crucial for improvement in maternity care

NHS England prepare to invest in 3 new units for mums with mental ill health

NHS England kickstarts programme to help 30,000 more new or expectant mums with serious mental illness

NHS sets out plan to road test maternity services of the future

LGA:  Tackling mental illness in children should begin before birth

Improvements needed for how newborn babies and infants with complex health problems are cared for

Infant cremations

From review to implementation: embedding the 2020 vision for maternity services – Baroness Julia Cumberlege

All pregnant women to receive vitamins

Patients Association Welcomes Personal Pregnancy Plans

Pregnant women warned of health risk from animals giving birth

Finalising the Maternity Review report – Baroness Julia Cumberlege

NICE publishes new guideline to reduce premature birth rates

NICE issues standard on improving maternal and child nutrition

NICE publishes guidelines to tackle premature birth and manage breathing disorders in children

Thousands of women confront mental health issues in thriving community perinatal scheme

NHS England announces new action to cut stillbirths

Over £2m investment in safer maternity care

Rubella susceptibility screening in pregnancy to end in England

NICE says more evidence needed on promising new tests to help diagnose pregnancy complication

Spotlight on women at Serco – Anita’s story