9 to 15 October is Baby Loss Awareness Week, a time to remember babies who sadly died during pregnancy, at or soon after birth, and in infancy. It is also an opportunity to raise awareness of the impact baby loss has on families and the importance of compassion, understanding, and ongoing support.

While many losses are tragically unavoidable, in some circumstances mistakes in care may contribute. Clinical negligence investigations can help families understand what happened, provide answers, and ensure lessons are learned so that care is improved in the future. The legal process is not about blame, but about accountability, patient safety, and giving families the clarity they need at a deeply difficult time.

How mistakes in care can have devastating consequences

In some cases, failures in medical care can contribute to a baby’s death. For example, delays in recognising and acting upon reduced fetal movements, a failure to properly monitor a baby’s heartbeat during labour or not escalating concerns when complications arise can all have serious outcomes.

One example often seen in clinical negligence work is when a mother attends hospital reporting reduced fetal movements, but staff do not carry out the correct monitoring or escalate her concerns. If the baby’s distress is missed, opportunities to intervene, such as delivering the baby earlier, may be lost. Sadly, this can result in a stillbirth or neonatal death that might otherwise have been prevented.

By examining what went wrong, healthcare providers can improve training, systems, and communication, with the aim of reducing future tragedies.

Baby Loss in Hull & East Yorkshire

Locally, the stillbirth rate in Hull was 36 stillbirths in Hull over 3 years, between 2021 and 2023 (sourced from the Hull Joint Strategic Needs Assessment(JSNA)), with 25 neonatal deaths (deaths within the first 28 days of life) recorded in the same period. Behind each number is a family living with unimaginable loss.

NHS figures also show that Hull hospital trusts have paid out over £34 million in maternity negligence claims over the last decade. Some of these cases involved stillbirths, neonatal deaths, or serious injuries. These figures underline why accountability and improvements in care remain so important.

Support for families

Baby Loss Awareness Month encourages open conversations about a subject that is often hidden away. No parent should feel isolated in their grief. Support services and charities play a vital role, offering spaces where families can find comfort, share experiences, and connect with others who understand their loss.

Local support in Hull & East Yorkshire

Hull and East Yorkshire Sands – Part of Sands, the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death charity. This local group is volunteer-led, many of them bereaved parents themselves, offering support via meetings, phone, and email.

• Website: Hull & East Yorkshire Sands
• Email: hulleastyorkshire@sands.org.uk
• National helpline: 0808 164 3332

National support

• Sands (UK) – Free, confidential support for anyone affected by pregnancy loss or the death of a baby. sands.org.uk
• Tommy’s – Funds research into miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth, while supporting families. tommys.org

Baby Loss Awareness Month is a reminder that behind every statistic is a grieving family. By raising awareness, supporting charities, and ensuring lessons are learned within healthcare, we can work towards a future where fewer families experience such heartbreak and those who do are never left to cope alone.

If you, or someone you know, has suffered a baby loss which you feel may be as a result of clinical negligence and would like confidential advice, please contact Williamsons today. Our experienced clinical negligence team is here to provide support and guidance every step of the way.