Written by Dr Remi Mogekwu. Reviewed by Jenny Wordsworth.

Dr Remi Mogekwu is a London-based Obstetrics & Gynaecology doctor with over a decade of clinical experience. She holds a Master’s in Reproductive Science & Women’s Health from UCL and a Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Education.

Remi is passionate about health equity and is committed to helping women make informed, confident decisions about their reproductive health. She blends evidence-based insight with warm, accessible communication to demystify fertility, pregnancy, and postnatal recovery.

Alongside her clinical work, she is building Her Health Room - a platform offering culturally sensitive postnatal education and support to help women heal physically, emotionally, and socially after birth.

Baby Loss Awareness Week

Baby Loss Awareness Week honours the grief of pregnancy and baby loss. If you have experienced pregnancy or baby loss, it is a reminder that you are not alone. This year it takes place between the 9th and 15th October. Not only does it encourage you to take time to sensitively remember your loss, but to also do so in community with others. Additionally, it signals the very real need to improve bereavement services across the UK. 

Pregnancy loss is, sadly, common and affects up to 30% of women and people - not that this takes away from its impact on you - and the likelihood of it happening decreases the longer you are pregnant. In 2023, 1 in 311 births ended in stillbirth (pregnancy loss after 24 weeks). Meanwhile, in early pregnancy (less than 24 weeks), it is estimated that 25% of all pregnancies end in a miscarriage.

Thankfully, the latest numbers show a decline in stillbirth rates. But this is not the full picture, as within this racial and socioeconomic inequality persists, with babies born in deprived areas 2.5 times more likely to die in the first 28 days of life. Similarly, black babies are 2 times more likely to be stillborn compared to white babies. There is still much more work to do. 

Pregnancy loss can occur for various reasons, and understanding the causes may be beneficial in your next steps, as well as understanding what help is available for you. 

Causes of Pregnancy Loss

First Trimester Loss (Up to 13 weeks and 6 days)

Pregnancy loss in the first trimester occurs more commonly - it affects up to 20% of pregnancies. This includes pregnancies confirmed on a pregnancy test (a biochemical pregnancy). The most common cause is problems in the genetics of the foetus. Other causes include early placenta problems and medical conditions.

Second Trimester (Up to 27 weeks and 6 days)

In this trimester, loss occurs less commonly, affecting 4% of pregnancies up to 24 weeks gestation. 

Causes of this can include:

• A weakened cervix (neck of the womb).

• Structural changes in the womb, e.g. Fibroids.

• An infection.

• Medical conditions like Diabetes, high blood pressure, Lupus, Antiphospholipid Syndrome and more.

Third trimester (Up to 40 weeks)

In this trimester, loss is recorded as a stillbirth, which we know affects 1 in 311 pregnancies (including all pregnancies from 24 weeks). The most common cause is problems with the placenta, followed by medical conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure, and any of the reasons previously mentioned.

Whenever or however your loss has occurred, the experience is harrowing for many women, and you deserve compassionate, informed care during this period. 

The first steps in your care will be to make sure the pregnancy has passed fully. This can be confirmed with an ultrasound scan, which determines if you need any further treatment. The key things that your clinician will want to check are that you are not bleeding heavily and you have no signs of infection. Alongside this, your medical team should provide you with emotional support and connect you with the bereavement team, who can guide you and your partner (if applicable) through the next steps.

After Pregnancy Loss

After the immediate assessment, an ongoing physical assessment is needed as your body will be going through a period of postpartum. The extent of this will be related to how far along your pregnancy was. The hormonal shifts that occur after pregnancy can affect your mood and energy levels, and you may experience other changes, such as milk coming in. These symptoms can be investigated further. There is treatment available, so please discuss this with your midwife and GP.  

Summary

During this Baby Loss Awareness Week, please remember to take care of yourself. Whether you have lost a pregnancy at 8 weeks or 38 weeks, allow yourself time and space to grieve. If it feels right, you might consider participating in events hosted by your local trust or online. 

Lastly, if after reading this, you identify gaps in your physical or mental recovery, please seek help from your midwife or GP. You are not alone. 

Where to go for support?

• Bereavement Midwife at your local trust

• Tommy’s 

• Sands UK 

• The Miscarriage Association
  
  

Key Takeaways: 

• Baby Loss Awareness Week allows us to come together to remember all babies lost and those affected by this. There is support available to help guide you through this via the resources linked in the document. No one should feel alone and we want to help you to understand what is available to them and to guide them to the appropriate, specialist resources. 

• Dr Remi Mogekwu shares her expertise to outline the different causes of pregnancy loss over time, as well as outlining support after pregnancy loss.