In Conversation with a Clinical Nurse Specialist – Baby Loss Awareness Week

Every year from 9 – 15 October, Baby Loss Awareness Week (BLAW) brings together families, charities, healthcare professionals and communities across the UK to remember the babies who have died during pregnancy, at or soon after birth, and in infancy. It’s a week dedicated to raising awareness, breaking the silence, and offering support to anyone affected by baby loss. For many families, it’s also a time to connect with others who understand their grief and to honour every baby’s life, no matter how brief.

At Martin House, we’re proud to walk alongside families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. From diagnosis through bereavement and beyond, our team of specialists provide compassionate, individualised care that helps families find comfort, make memories, and feel less alone.

As part of Baby Loss Awareness Week, we spoke with Amelia Chermside, one of our Clinical Nurse Specialists, about how our team supports families through pregnancy and baby loss, and those whose babies require complex neonatal care.

How do we support families with pregnancy and baby loss?

We support families through every stage of their journey, sometimes even from the point of diagnosis, or before — with compassion and care that’s tailored to each individual need.

Our support begins in the antenatal period, helping families with appointments, emotional support, advanced care planning, and memory making. When we know a baby has a life-shortening condition, our focus is on making their life as comfortable and meaningful as possible, giving families the chance to create memories to treasure forever.

For babies receiving complex neonatal care, we can provide specialist medical support to help manage distressing symptoms and offer comfort. We also give families the choice of where they’d like to spend precious time with their baby — whether in hospital, at Martin House, or at home. Choice and control can mean a great deal at such a difficult time.

Most importantly, our care doesn’t end there. We walk alongside families not only in those first few days but in the weeks, months, and even years afterwards. Our bereavement team is there to listen, to console, and to honour every baby’s life and legacy for as long as a family needs.

Where does support take place?

Support takes place wherever the baby and family choose to be — in hospital, at Martin House, or at home. We know no family would ever choose to be in this situation, so being able to offer them choice and flexibility in where they receive care is really important to us.

Some families prefer face-to-face support, while others find comfort in speaking over the phone — and that’s absolutely fine. We know that the memory of their child’s journey will stay with families forever, so our aim is to listen, to respect their wishes, and to make sure we get it right for them.

How would someone access support?

Families or professionals can refer online using our referral form. Referrals can happen at any stage — from the point of diagnosis, or even before if a baby is unwell, right through to years after a baby has sadly died, if a family wishes to reach out for support.

There’s also a text-based option through GriefChat, which can be accessed via a link on our website for anyone who’d rather start a conversation that way.

Supporting families welcoming a new baby after loss

We offer emotional support from our family support team, as well as a dedicated Rainbow Baby Group, where families who have experienced loss can connect with others who truly understand what that journey feels like.

How to support someone who has experienced baby loss

The most powerful thing you can do is simply show up. Say their baby’s name. Acknowledge their loss. Listen without trying to fix it. Grief can’t be rushed, and everyone experiences it differently. Just being there consistently and compassionately makes a difference.

Sometimes, it’s the small gestures that mean the most, like remembering anniversaries or key dates, sending a simple message, or sitting in silence. These moments can help families feel less alone.

Why Baby Loss Awareness Week matters

Baby Loss Awareness Week gives families a voice and a space to remember and honour their babies.

For many, baby loss can be a silent grief. This week helps to break that silence — it’s about saying, your baby mattered, your grief is valid, and you are not alone. It’s also a time for us all to learn, reflect, and show compassion. By raising awareness and standing together, we help create a community where families feel supported and understood.

In Reflection

At Martin House, our work during Baby Loss Awareness Week, and every week, is rooted in compassion, understanding, and the belief that every baby’s life matters. Through dedicated care, choice, and ongoing support, families are never left to walk their journey alone.

Baby Loss Awareness Week ends with the Wave of Light on 15th October at 7pm, when candles are lit around the world in remembrance of every baby gone too soon. To find out more, visit www.babyloss-awareness.org or join the conversation using #BLAW2025 and #WaveOfLight.