How to prepare for Baby Loss Awareness Week

How to look after yourself during Baby Loss Awareness Week

As Baby Loss Awareness Month begins, we want to acknowledge that for so many in our community, the coming days can feel triggering, heavy and emotionally demanding. There can be a sense that you should be taking part – sharing, remembering publicly, lighting a candle, telling your story – when actually, you might just want to hide away and get through the week quietly. 

We want to reassure you that it is okay to feel how you feel, and to move through the coming days in whatever way you choose. There is no expectation on you. You don’t have to prepare for Baby Loss Awareness Week in any particular way. You don’t have to participate, share your story or feel a certain way. But it can help to think ahead about what you might need. 

Baby loss isn’t just a week, or a month – it’s your daily reality 

If you have experienced the trauma of baby loss, you already have more awareness of baby loss than any parent should ever have to carry. You live with this experience beneath your skin every day. You do not need a particular week to remind you that your baby existed, that you loved them, or that your loss matters. 

“For me, every day is baby loss awareness. But BLAW does help start a conversation, and for me, supports dads having a voice around baby loss. It’s a week when the uncomfortable can gently become comfortable during conversations. ” – Guy, former Petals client. 

“Before March 2025, I didn’t have any understanding of baby loss awareness. But now I know it’s not just about grief, it’s about helping the whole world learn how to love and care for families like mine. – Georgia, former Petals client 

However you are feeling this BLAW, we see you. And, as always, we will do our best to hold you through the coming days and remind you that you are not alone.

There is no one way to experience BLAW 

As Petals counsellor Flora Saxby explains: “For some it is a really important time to be involved in BLAW and some need to carefully avoid exposure to other people’s grief as this can feel overwhelming. This can depend on how recent your loss was, but will also be affected by other factors, and can be different as each year passes. Some people like to take BLAW as an opportunity to share news more publicly, and some prefer not to, there is no right or wrong way to move through the week. Now is a good time to think about that.” 

How you feel can change from year to year, too. You might want to be more involved this year than last year – or less. 

For some people, BLAW can feel like an important opportunity to honour their baby and connect with others. For others, it can make grief feel suddenly much closer. 

“BLAW lays everything bare and sometimes it feels like you’re grieving in public. It’s like everything comes all at once, all in those seven days and things I might manage fine the rest of the year suddenly feel so much closer and heavier. Everywhere you look people are posting, sharing, telling their stories and while so much of it is beautiful, it can catch you right in the chest.”
– Georgia, former Petals client 

So, before the week begins, you might want to think about what feels right for you. 

You can choose what you let in 

“Social media, other people’s stories and public conversations about baby loss can feel both comforting and difficult. It is different for every individual.”
– Flora Saxby, Petals counsellor 

You might want to: 

• mute or unfollow accounts for a while 

• take breaks from social media 

• delete the apps from your phone for the week 

• decide which events or conversations you want to join 

• give yourself permission to leave something if it becomes too much 

• let people close to you know that you might need a little extra support 

As one former Petals client, Chloe, put it: 

“Social media is full of triggers. If you’re not ready to ‘immerse’ yourself in the week, delete the apps off your phone.” 

You can lean in, too 

Perhaps being involved feels important to you. 

You might want to light a candle, visit a display, attend a remembrance service, share your baby’s story, connect with other bereaved parents or simply spend time remembering your baby in your own way. 

“I’ve come to really love Baby Loss Awareness Week as it has become a way to honour and parent my baby.”
– Jessica, former Petals client 

There is nothing wrong with wanting to be part of the week. There is nothing wrong with finding comfort in it. 

And you can step away 

You don’t have to participate at all. You can decide that this year, protecting your emotional space is what you need. You can change your mind. You can make plans and decide on the day that you don’t feel able to go.  

As Flora says: 

“Baby Loss Awareness Week is there to raise awareness and remember babies who have died, but you do not owe anyone your story, your participation or your emotions.” 

Awareness is important for those around us. But you do not have to make your loss visible for it to matter. 

Do what your heart needs 

Perhaps the most important thing to plan for is to give yourself permission to respond to the week in the way you need to – not the way you think you should. 

“Do what your heart needs. If you have no energy to do anything, then you don’t have to. If you want to visit a display or attend a remembrance service, you can, but there should be no pressure. Even if you planned to go and on the day you don’t feel able to, that’s okay too.”
– Jessica, former Petals client 

Be kind to yourself over the coming days

You don’t owe anyone your story. You don’t owe anyone your participation. And you don’t owe anyone a particular response to Baby Loss Awareness Week. 

“I’ll take things slow say no when it feels too much, and let myself feel everything the joy and the sadness, side by side. I’m not just a mum who lost a baby I’m a mum to two beautiful sons.” 

Protect yourself and your heart and let those around you know that you will be moving through these days in whatever way feels most comfortable for you. 

Find peace in your approach 

You don’t have to commit to one way of moving through Baby Loss Awareness Week, and you don’t have to keep doing something just because you started.

Give yourself permission to listen to what you need, day by day and know that it is exactly what is right for you, right now.