Taunton Deane MP, Rebecca Pow today lent her support to Baby Loss Awareness Week, and emphasised the need for the best support to be provided to bereaved parents.

Baby Loss Awareness Week is an annual event taking place this year from 9 – 15 October.  Pregnancy and baby loss affects thousands of families each year across the UK. The death of a baby is a tragedy that can happen to anyone, at any time. It can be devastating, not only for parents, but also their families and their friends and can have long-term lasting effects.  The Week is an opportunity for them to acknowledge and remember their precious babies and for people to talk openly about the subject of and raise awareness of pregnancy, baby and infant loss.

Rebecca said “In 2015, 3,014 babies in the UK died before their 1st birthday and The UK has higher rates of stillbirth and infant mortality than many European countries with Pregnancies in most socially deprived areas are over 50% more likely to end in stillbirth and neonatal death. I am proud to support efforts to raise awareness of pregnancy and baby loss, and ensure families affected receive the best services and support at such a heart breaking time.”

For further information on Baby Loss Awareness Week, please see www.babyloss-awareness.org.  During the Week, discussion on twitter will use #babyloss.