This week is a special time of remembrance and awareness, marking the lives of babies lost during pregnancy, birth or soon after.

Pregnancy loss is often unexpected. During Baby Loss Awareness Week, now in its 20th year, organisations come together to raise awareness and offer support for those affected by this, each step of the way.

As a solicitor specialising in addressing the consequences of poor maternity care, I often work with clients who have suffered baby loss and know how devastating it can be for families to experience. Often our clients are seeking answers and we support Baby Loss Awareness Week in raising awareness of the impact of pregnancy loss, of support available to anyone affected and to drive improvements to prevent baby loss.

One in four people in the UK experience baby loss but often those who go through this have found it hard to talk about. Throughout pregnancy there can be feelings of uncertainty, but also expectancy, and it can be emotionally very challenging when that journey takes an unexpected turn. How to tell others what has happened can be incredibly hard and knowing what to say to someone you know have been affected by pregnancy loss can also be difficult. Raising questions or concerns families might have about their care can also be challenging.

Baby Loss Awareness Week has helped share voices of those who have gone through miscarriage, stillbirth or the death of their newborn baby. Topics which have sometimes been considered to be almost taboo. Sharing stories has offered support to those who maybe feel like no one knows what you’re going through and it seems that more recently those in the public eye have been bravely sharing their experiences too.

One key area of support and awareness is a need to support both partners through baby loss. Research has reported that more than two thirds of those asked felt support for dads and partners during and after pregnancy was not good, or non-existing. This rose to 74 per cent for pregnancies ending in loss. The charity Tommy’s has resources and support for everyone but also help that is dedicated to partners. A number of dads have shared their stories and experiences to help others.

Another key goal of Tommy’s is to carry out research which aims to prevent pregnancy loss. Their research centres help to understand why complications happen and why pregnancy loss occurs. They also offer specialist support to those who have lost babies. The Rainbow Clinic in Manchester is a specialist centre and provides care to those who have suffered baby loss in future pregnancies.