Baby Loss Awareness Week: coming together to support those affected

Baby Loss Awareness Week is a time to acknowledge a deeply painful experience that affects countless individuals and families around the world. It serves as a crucial reminder of the emotional weight carried by those who have experienced the loss of a pregnancy or infant. While this week brings much-needed attention to the topic, the reality of baby loss is often under-discussed, leaving many to grieve in silence.

The Prevalence of Baby Loss

The statistics are staggering. According to research, about 1 in 4 pregnancies ends in loss. This includes ‘miscarriage’, which is defined as the loss of a pregnancy before 20 weeks, ‘stillbirth’, and the loss of an infant shortly after birth. These numbers reveal just how common baby loss is, yet it remains a topic many feel uncomfortable addressing.

For the families experiencing it, the trauma can be overwhelming. Losing a baby not only disrupts a life event anticipated with joy, but it can also have a lasting impact on mental and emotional well-being. Despite the prevalence of baby loss, those who experience it often feel isolated in their grief, with few places to turn to for support.

The Overlooked Trauma

One of the most difficult aspects of baby loss is how the trauma is frequently overlooked or minimized by others. Often, well-meaning friends and family may not know how to offer comfort, or they may downplay the loss with comments like, "It just wasn’t meant to be" or "You can always try again." While these statements are typically said with the intention of offering hope, they can have the opposite effect, leaving parents feeling dismissed or misunderstood.

The grief from baby loss is unique and profound. It often includes a mix of emotions like ‘sadness’, ‘guilt’, ‘anger’, and even ‘fear’ about trying to conceive again. Because baby loss isn’t always visible to the outside world, it can be challenging for others to recognize the depth of the trauma and the ongoing grief parents endure. This emotional weight can lead to depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), particularly when there is little emotional support or acknowledgment from loved ones or the broader community.

The Importance of Support

Coming together to support those experiencing baby loss is crucial for helping parents navigate their grief. It starts with acknowledgment —recognizing that a loss has occurred and that the pain is real. This simple act can go a long way in helping parents feel less isolated. Listening to their stories without offering unsolicited advice or minimizing the loss is also key. Grieving parents often just need a compassionate ear.

Beyond immediate family and friends, there are support groups and resources available that can offer specialized care. Many parents find solace in connecting with others who have gone through a similar experience, whether in person or through online communities like Tilly. Knowing that they aren’t alone can be an incredibly healing step.

How We Can All Help

During Baby Loss Awareness Week—and beyond—there are a few ways we can all come together to support those who have experienced baby loss:

1. Acknowledge the Loss: Don’t shy away from the topic. Offer your condolences, no matter how long it has been since the loss occurred.

2. Offer Emotional Support: Sometimes, just being there and listening is the best thing you can do. Avoid trying to "fix" the situation or offering advice unless asked.

3. Provide Space: Allow grieving parents the space to feel and express their emotions. Grief doesn’t have a timeline, and it’s important that parents aren’t rushed through the process.

4. Encourage Professional Help: Grieving parents may benefit from counseling or support groups that specialize in baby loss. Encourage them to seek professional help if they feel overwhelmed.

Remembering and Honoring Loss

Baby Loss Awareness Week is also a time to honor and remember the babies who have been lost. Many families choose to light candles, plant trees, or create other memorials to keep the memory of their babies alive. October 15th, the end of Baby Loss Awareness Week, is recognized as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, where people around the world light candles in memory of the babies who are no longer with us.

Moving Forward, Together

For those who may not have experienced baby loss, it is important to understand the profound impact it can have and to offer support wherever possible. The trauma of baby loss may not always be visible, but it is deeply felt by those going through it. By coming together as a community to provide emotional support, understanding, and compassion, we can help parents on their path to healing.  

At Tilly, many of us have unfortunately experienced baby loss firsthand. We understand what you are going through—and we’ve created Tilly to offer emotional support to those grieving, as well as practical guidance for those supporting someone through this loss. No one should navigate this journey alone, and we are here to help every step of the way.  

Let’s use Baby Loss Awareness Week as a starting point to spark more conversations, offer more support, and remember that behind every statistic is a family grieving a loss that matters. Together, we can create a world where no parent feels alone in their grief.  

In solidarity,

Jenny Ann, founder of Tilly