In the UK, 17 babies a day are stillborn or die during the first four weeks of life - over 6,200 babies a year, a devastating bereavement for their parents, families and friends.Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity’s Awareness Month aims to highlight the loss parents endure and the support available to them and their families.
There are several major events taking place across the UK in June during Awareness Month.
The new edition of Sands ‘Pregnancy Loss and the Death of a Baby: Guidelines for Professionals’ is being launched at the Royal College of Physicians in London on 12th June. The Guidelines have long been recognised as an essential benchmark for good practice for health professionals when caring for parents who have a childbearing loss. Previous editions of the Sands Guidelines have had a widespread effect on the way miscarriage, stillbirth and neonatal death are managed.
Awareness Month also sees the first UK tour of American actor, David Hansen’s award winning play, `I HATE THIS’ (a play without the baby), a solo performance that takes the audience from the moment David’s son Calvin was stillborn and through the year that follows. David will be appearing in London, Carlisle, Lincoln, Birmingham, Northern Ireland, Exeter and Plymouth.
Sands Dad, Martin Brewin is walking 150 miles to work, in only 6 days, that’s a marathon every day, starting on the 14th June from his home in Carlton Scroop, Lincolnshire to Central London. The walk, which will take him through Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, is in memory of his son Barney, who was stillborn last November, and to raise money for Sands.
Sands parents across the UK during June will also be holding a series of Strawberry Summer themed events during Awareness Month to raise awareness of Sands and vital funds for the charity. Events planned range from; sponsored strawberry growing, picking and eating competitions, to strawberry and Champagne evenings.
The end of Sands Awareness month culminates in an Open Day and memorial service for all those affected by the death of a baby at the Sands Garden at The National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire on the 30th June.
Neal Long, Director, Sands: “There is a huge range of activity taking place during Awareness Month and our aim is to make as many people as possible aware of Sands and the services that we offer. 1 in 200 babies is stillborn in the UK, and tragically thousands of parents and families are affected every year. We offer a wide range of support services to anyone affected by the death of a baby, from our helpline, support leaflets, books, and website to our on line forum. We want to ensure that those who desperately need these resources, know where to find them and can benefit from them.”
Sands supports anyone affected by the death of a baby and promotes research to reduce the loss of babies’ lives. If you have been affected by the death of a baby and would like to talk to someone in confidence or find out more about Sands please call 020 7436 7940 or visit www.uk-sands.org
WHO ARE SANDS?
Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity was established by bereaved parents in 1975 and obtained charity status in 1981.
Sands core aims are to:
 Support anyone affected by the death of a baby;
To work in partnership with health professionals to improve the quality of care and services offered to bereaved families; and
To promote research and changes in practice that could help to reduce the loss of babies’ lives
Helpline: 020 7436 5881
Office: 020 7436 7940
Web: www.uk-sands.org
E mail: support@uk-sands.org
Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity
Our services are for anyone affected by a baby’s death, including stillbirth and death during or soon after birth. We offer support when a baby has spent time in a special care unit, if a baby has died at an earlier gestation, or when parents have had to make the difficult decision to end a pregnancy. We offer support whenever a baby dies, whether the death occurred recently or long ago.
As well as supporting mothers and fathers, we are here to help other family members, especially grandparents and other children. Many people can be affected by a baby’s death, including friends and health professional, and all are welcome to contact us.
Improving care when a baby dies.....
No-one can take away the pain that parents feel when their baby dies. But sensitive, supportive care in hospital can help to ease the grieving process. We have worked in partnership with health professional for over 25 years to improve understanding of what it means to lose a baby, and of what professionals can do to support and care for parents when their baby dies.
Promoting research to reduce the loss of babies’ lives...
17 babies are stillborn or die shortly after birth every day in the UK. We believe this figure is unacceptably high, and we want to ensure that as few parents as possible have to experience this devastating loss. We are developing strong links with researchers and organisation in the UK and internationally. Together we are working to promote changes which could further advance our understanding of stillbirth and neonatal death.
Sands offers support through:
Our National Helpline provides a safe place where there is someone to listen and offer support. 020 7436 5881 helpline@uk-sands.org
Our Support Forum provides a place online where people can connect with others whose baby has died. www.sandsforum.org.
Our Website offers information, resources, personal stories and help with the many choices that parents need to make www.uk-sands.org
Our Support and Information leaflets offer practical information and emotional support for all family members and for the days, months and years after bereavement. 020 7436 7940 support@uk-sands.org
Our range of Books written from both personal and professional perspectives on bereavement are available to buy www.uk-sands.org
Our vast network of more than 80 Local Groups across the UK offer vital support and services on a local level. 020 7436 7940 support@uk-sands.org
Key Facts :
Every day in the UK 17 babies are stillborn or die within their first month of life, almost 6,500 babies dying every year.
1 in every 200 babies born in the UK is stillborn.
1 in every 300 babies born in the UK dies in the first four weeks of life.
In 2004, 11 babies were stillborn every day.
In 2004, every day 7 babies died who were aged less than 28 days.
In 2002 the stillbirth rates in England and Wales increased for the first time since 1992, to 5.6. This rate increase was sustained in 2003 in England and Wales. At present no factor has been identified which can clearly account for this increase.
Stillbirth is when a baby is born dead after 24 completed weeks of pregnancy or more
Neonatal death is when a baby is born alive but dies under the age of 28 days.
10 times more babies are lost to stillbirth than sudden infant death in the UK.
4.5 million stillbirths occur each year worldwide (source World Health Organisation, WHO).
June 2007
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