Sands | Saving babies' lives. Supporting bereaved families.

Latest updates from Sands

Northern Ireland becomes first part of the UK to offer paid Miscarriage Leave

Paid miscarriage leave launches in Northern Ireland

From Monday 6 April, parental bereavement leave in Northern Ireland will be extended to include families who experience pregnancy or...

Posted 6 April 2026

Closing the Maternity Consortium

Léa Maquin, Maternity Consortium Co-ordinator and Engagement Lead, explains the programme of work, its impact and how the Consortium’s published...

Posted 26 March 2026

White text on a purple background reads: Sands' evidence to the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation in England

Blog: We need to completely reform the system – Sands’ evidence to the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation in England

In this blog, Jessica Reeves, Head of Public Affairs and Campaigns details Sands’ evidence, recently submitted to Baroness Amos’ investigation...

Posted 26 March 2026

Sophie's Story

Sophie shares how she first became aware of Sands when her baby brother died at three weeks old in 1992, and the charity supported her Mum. She also shares how she lost her beautiful daughter in November 2017 at 23 weeks and five days pregnant after she had to have a termination for medical reasons (TFMR) when her daughter's 20 week scan revealed she had Ventriculomegaly and Tetralogy of Fallot, and how in July 2018 she experienced a late miscarriage when she went into labour with her little boy at 14 weeks pregnant. Sophie worried about people's reactions to her termination for medical reasons (TFMR) so didn't pursue support from her local Sands group but she now realises how valid her situation was for that support.

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Ellie's Story

While she was on holiday in Spain in April 2023 Ellie's baby girl, Maeve, arrived 12 and a half weeks early. She was rushed to NICU where a congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) was diagnosed. She had emergency surgery but then developed Pulmonary Hypertension as a result of her CDH. Four weeks and one day after she arrived into the world, Maeve passed away in the arms of her mummy and daddy.

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Latest updates from Sands

Paid miscarriage leave launches in Northern Ireland

Closing the Maternity Consortium

Blog: We need to completely reform the system – Sands’ evidence to the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation in England

Your stories of baby loss

Sophie's Story

Ellie's Story

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