A general debate will be held in the Commons Chamber on Thursday 23 September 2021 on Baby Loss Awareness Week. The subject for the debate has been nominated by the Backbench Business Committee, and the debate will be opened by Cherilyn Mackrory MP and Jeremy Hunt MP.
Commons Library debate pack: Baby Loss Awareness Week (273 KB , PDF)
Baby Loss Awareness Week 2021 is on 9-15 October. It is an opportunity for those affected by baby loss to remember and commemorate their babies’ lives and to raise awareness of this issue. The Baby Loss Awareness Week website provides more information about the aims of the week. This year the theme is wellbeing:
Baby Loss Awareness Week is a wonderful opportunity to bring us together as a community and give anyone touched by pregnancy and baby loss a safe and supportive space to share their experiences and feel that they are not alone.
This year our theme is Wellbeing and we will be exploring what this means to people from all walks of life who have been affected by pregnancy and baby loss.
We recognise that health workers, who have been under immense pressure during the pandemic, can only look after bereaved families with empathy and kindness if they themselves are supported, and we are here for them too.
Parents and families tell us how important it is that they each find a way to remember their baby in a way that suits them. Some join with others at special services organised by their local hospital or a local support organisation, some find solace in events organised by their faith community while others will remember alone in a way unique to them. It is important to remember there is no right or wrong way and it can change as the years pass too.
During last year’s #WaveOfLight messages of remembrance and hope brought many people together. Take care of yourselves and know that we are here for you now and throughout the year. You are not alone.[1]
Baby Loss Awareness week is coordinated and supported by over 60 UK charities including the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, Sands, the Miscarriage Association and Antenatal Results and Choices (ARC).
The Baby Loss Awareness week website encourages people to ask their MP to attend the debate on 23 September to debate what actions can be taken in this area, with a specific focus on the wellbeing of those who have been affected by baby loss. It has published a debate briefing for MPs, Briefing from the Baby Loss Awareness Alliance for the general debate on Baby Loss Awareness Week – 23rd September 2021, Main Chamber, House of Commons
The term baby loss can describe a number of different types of bereavement including miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth, neonatal and infant death, and termination of pregnancy. It is not possible to provide a comprehensive briefing on these in this debate pack. However, this briefing will highlight key recent policy announcements and parliamentary activity in this area.
Detailed background information about Government policy and programmes, including the National Maternity Review, targets to reduce stillbirths, neonatal and maternal deaths, and the National Care Bereavement Care Pathway, can be found in the following Commons Library debate packs:
Further background on the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic can be found in the Commons Library debate pack on the effect of the Covid-19 outbreak on people experiencing baby loss (November 2020).
There are several Commons Library and POST briefings which provide relevant information:
[1] Baby Loss Awareness Week website, [accessed 22 September 2021]
Commons Library debate pack: Baby Loss Awareness Week (273 KB , PDF)
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