Following Baby Loss Awareness Week a high-profile charity behind the campaign is keen to prolong the discussion.
Sadly 5,558 babies were either stillborn or died within the first four weeks of life in 2014 and the purpose of Baby Loss Awareness Week was to commemorate, raise awareness and fight to bring those levels down.
The Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Charity (Sands) are looking to keep the momentum going from the successful week of awareness and reinforce the fact that support is always available.
“These are key and ongoing public health messages that every new parent needs to hear,” said Sands marketing officer Joanna Pell.
“The messages need to continue in order to both reach the audiences that need to hear them, but also to have the necessary impact.”
The cause received a welcome boost at the start of this week when health secretary Jeremy Hunt launched a new government-backed online campaign called Our Chance.
Sands, who helped develop Our Chance, hopes it will empower parents with the knowledge and confidence to maximise their chances of healthy outcomes for themselves and their babies.
“It provides an opportunity to share messages about safer pregnancy,” said Pell.
“These messages allow parents to understand simple steps that they can take for themselves to have a safer pregnancy.”
The campaign includes a series of short films telling real-life stories with courageous individuals discussing their own experiences – including Labour MP Vicky Foxcroft.
“Families who suffer a miscarriage, still birth or death of a baby are silenced by our inability to talk about painful matters,” said Liberal Democrat Tom Brake, MP for Carshalton and Wallington.
“Vicky, with her incredibly moving speech has started to break that silence. Let’s hope her bravery will help improve the support for families who can grieve for a lifetime after such a loss.
“It’s time for the health service to step up to the plate.”
For support and advice in south west London contact South West London Sands on 07951 229425.
Featured image courtesy of gabi menashe, with thanks
