It’s now Sands Awareness Week! All week we’re asking everyone across the Sands community and beyond to help us share our Finding the Words campaign.

Together, we can help everyone find the words to talk about pregnancy and baby loss. Our Finding the Words campaign is part of our aim to break the silence around pregnancy loss and baby death.

Bereaved parents tell us that when friends, family and colleagues reach out and connect, it lets them know they aren't alone with their grief. 

But we know that talking to someone about pregnancy loss or the death of their baby can sometimes feel difficult, and you might be worried about saying the wrong thing.

In fact, polling we’ve released today has found that 69% of people in the UK who know someone who has been affected by pregnancy or baby loss want advice on how to sensitively start a conversation about it with them. 

The most common reason (58%) people gave why they found it difficult to talk was because they were worried about upsetting the person that has been affected.  

But we know that a lack of conversation about bereavement matters because of the impact on bereaved parents when no one asks about their loss.  

Just over a third (34%) of people surveyed who had been personally affected by pregnancy or baby loss, said they felt isolated or lonely when no one asked them about what had happened. 
 

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I remember the people who reached out, even if it was awkward or clumsy, more fondly than those who ignored me.

Dale, bereaved father

This Sands Awareness Week through our Finding the Words campaign, we'll be sharing advice and support so more people can start those important conversations.