Black Baby Loss Awareness Week: Reflecting, Remembering and Raising Awareness
Black Baby Loss Awareness Week (BBLAW) is an important time to come together, reflect, remember and raise awareness of the unique experiences Black families may face when navigating pregnancy and baby loss.
Since its founding, BBLAW has created a vital space for open conversations about miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal loss and infertility within Black communities. It is a deeply meaningful opportunity to honour the babies who are loved and missed, while acknowledging the inequalities that continue to affect Black families throughout maternity care
Why Black Baby Loss Awareness Week Matters
Pregnancy and baby loss can be an incredibly isolating experience for anyone. However, research continues to show that Black women and Black birthing people in the UK experience disproportionately poorer maternity outcomes.
This includes higher rates of miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth and maternal mortality compared with white women.
These statistics are deeply concerning, but behind every number is a baby who was cherished and a family whose hopes, dreams and plans were changed forever.
Black Baby Loss Awareness Week helps to:
Raise awareness of disparities in maternity care and outcomes
Encourage honest conversations about loss and grief
Amplify Black voices and lived experiences
Challenge stigma and cultural taboos
Signpost families to compassionate support and resources
Breaking the Silence
In some communities, pregnancy and baby loss remain topics that are rarely spoken about. Cultural expectations, stigma and a lack of understanding can make it harder for bereaved parents to share their experiences or seek support.
Black Baby Loss Awareness Week creates a safe and supportive space where families can feel seen, heard and understood.
By sharing stories and listening to one another, we can help break the silence and remind bereaved parents that they are not alone.
Support for Black Families After Pregnancy Loss
At MISS, we understand that grief is deeply personal and shaped by culture, faith, family traditions and individual beliefs.
There is no right or wrong way to grieve.
Whether your loss is recent or happened many years ago, whether you grieve openly or quietly, and whether you draw strength from faith, family or private reflection, your experience matters.
Your baby matters, and you do not have to walk this path alone.
We are committed to providing compassionate and inclusive support to anyone affected by pregnancy loss in Scotland. Our free, confidential services include one-to-one support sessions, virtual support groups, memory boxes, support packs and online resources.
How You Can Get Involved
You can support Black Baby Loss Awareness Week by:
Listening to and sharing Black families’ stories
Learning about maternity inequalities
Talking openly about pregnancy and baby loss
Challenging stigma and misconceptions
Signposting people to support services
Together, we can help ensure every family feels seen, supported and understood. If you or someone you know has been affected by pregnancy loss, MISS is here to help.