A Safe Space to Talk
A safe space means being able to speak openly about your baby, your grief and your experiences without judgement or pressure. At Baby Loss Retreat, we recognise the importance of allowing parents to talk, reflect and feel heard.
Support & Understanding
Glossary of Terms
Words and phrases you may come across on the journey of baby loss, explained gently and without judgement. We hope they help you feel more understood, and better able to find your way.
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57 terms
A
Acknowledgement
Recognising that a baby existed and that their life and loss matter to their family. Remembering a baby's name, when appropriate, can mean a great deal to parents.
Aftercare
Ongoing emotional and practical support following baby loss. Aftercare recognises that support may be needed long after the initial loss and hospital care have ended.
Aftercare Support
At Baby Loss Retreat, we believe parents should have access to support when they need it, rather than feeling they have to navigate their grief alone. Our focus is on listening to parents, understanding their individual needs and helping them find the support that is right for them.
Anniversary Grief
Grief that becomes particularly strong around significant dates, such as a baby's due date, birthday, the date of the loss or Mother's Day and Father's Day.
Anticipatory Grief
Grief experienced before a loss occurs, such as when parents learn during pregnancy that their baby has a life-limiting condition.
Anxiety
Feelings of worry, fear or unease. Following baby loss, anxiety may relate to daily life, future pregnancies, medical appointments or the wellbeing of loved ones.
B
Baby Loss
An umbrella term used to describe the loss of a baby during pregnancy, at birth or shortly afterwards. Every loss matters, and every family's grief deserves understanding and support.
Baby Loss Awareness Week (BLAW)
An annual UK event held 9–15 October to remember babies who have died, raise awareness, and campaign for better bereavement care.
Baby Loss Retreat
Baby Loss Retreat is a Scottish charity providing emotional support to parents and families who have experienced the loss of a baby. We understand that every family's journey is different and that grief does not end when hospital care finishes. Our aim is to ensure that parents have access to compassionate support, a safe space to talk and the opportunity to process their loss in their own time.
Bereavement
The experience of losing someone through death. Baby bereavement can affect parents, partners, siblings, grandparents and other loved ones.
Bereavement Support
Emotional and practical support provided to someone following a death. It can include listening, information, support groups, counselling and help navigating everyday challenges.
C
Cause of Death
The medical explanation for why a baby died. Sometimes investigations provide an answer; in other cases, the cause remains unknown.
Compassionate Communication
Speaking and listening with kindness, sensitivity and without judgement. Often, acknowledging a baby's life and a parent's loss is more helpful than trying to find the perfect words.
Coping Strategies
Practical techniques that may help manage difficult emotions. These might include breathing exercises, mindfulness, journalling, talking to someone trusted or creating a daily routine.
Counselling
A confidential space to explore thoughts, emotions and experiences with a trained professional. Counselling can help parents process grief and develop ways to cope.
D
Depression
A mental health condition that can involve persistent low mood, hopelessness, loss of interest and difficulty managing everyday life. Support is available, and parents do not have to manage these feelings alone.
Due Date
The estimated date a baby was expected to be born. This date can remain emotionally significant following a loss.
E
Early Miscarriage
A miscarriage that occurs during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Ectopic Pregnancy
When a fertilised egg implants outside the womb, most commonly in a fallopian tube. An ectopic pregnancy cannot continue safely and may require urgent medical treatment.
Erin's App
Erin's App is a Baby Loss Retreat project designed to help parents access information and support following baby loss. The aim is to make helpful resources easier to find, including practical guidance, coping techniques and opportunities to connect with others who understand their experience.
Erin's Retreat
Erin's Retreat is Baby Loss Retreat's vision for a dedicated, peaceful place in Scotland where parents can spend time away from everyday pressures, reflect on their loss and talk together in a supportive environment. The aim is to give families the space and time they need following one of life's most difficult experiences.
F
Foetal Anomaly
A difference in the development or structure of a baby's body identified during pregnancy. Some conditions are minor, while others may be life-limiting.
G
Gestation
The length of time a pregnancy has progressed, usually measured in weeks and days.
Grief
The emotional, physical and psychological response to loss. Grief can include sadness, anger, guilt, confusion, numbness, anxiety and many other feelings. There is no set timetable for grieving.
Guilt
A feeling some parents experience after losing a baby, including wondering whether they could have done something differently. These feelings can be painful, but experiencing them does not mean that a parent is responsible for the loss.
I
Induction of Labour
A medical process used to start labour. It may be offered following a pregnancy loss or when a baby has died before birth.
K
Keepsakes
Objects that help parents remember their baby and preserve important memories.
L
Late Miscarriage
A miscarriage that occurs between 12 and 24 completed weeks of pregnancy.
Legacy
The lasting meaning, love and memories associated with a baby. Parents may create a legacy through fundraising, remembrance activities, sharing their baby's story or supporting other families.
Life-Limiting Condition
A medical condition that is expected to significantly shorten a baby's life. Some families receive this diagnosis during pregnancy, while others learn about it after birth.
Living Child or Sibling
A child whose brother or sister has died. Children may experience grief differently depending on their age and understanding, and they may need age-appropriate information and support.
M
Memorial
Something created to remember and honour a baby. This may be a special object, a garden, a piece of jewellery, a photograph or a dedicated place.
Memory Box
A box containing meaningful keepsakes connected to a baby, such as photographs, handprints, footprints, clothing or cards.
Mindfulness
A practice of gently bringing attention to the present moment without judging your thoughts or feelings. It may help some people manage stress and overwhelming emotions.
Miscarriage
The loss of a pregnancy before 24 completed weeks of pregnancy. Miscarriage can happen for many reasons, and it is often not possible to identify the exact cause.
Molar Pregnancy
A rare complication in which abnormal tissue develops in the womb instead of a normally developing pregnancy. Medical follow-up is needed.
N
Need Support?
If you or someone you know has experienced baby loss, Baby Loss Retreat is here to help you explore the support that may be available. You do not have to have the right words, and you do not have to face everything alone. Please contact us to find out more about our services.
Neonatal Death
When a baby dies within the first 28 days after birth.
O
Ongoing Support
Recognising that grief does not end after the funeral, the hospital appointment or the first few weeks. Checking in over time and remembering significant dates can help parents feel supported.
Our Promise
Baby Loss Retreat is committed to listening to parents and recognising that there is no single way to grieve. We want families to know that they are not alone, that their feelings matter and that support should reflect their individual needs.
P
Peer Support
Support from people who have experienced a similar type of loss. Sharing experiences with others who understand can help parents feel less alone.
Perinatal Loss
A term often used to describe the loss of a baby during pregnancy, at birth or in the period shortly after birth. The exact definition can vary depending on the service or context.
Placenta
An organ that develops during pregnancy and supplies the baby with oxygen and nutrients. Problems affecting the placenta can sometimes contribute to pregnancy complications or baby loss.
Post-mortem Examination
A detailed medical examination that may be offered after a baby's death to help understand the cause of death or identify an underlying condition. Parents can discuss what is involved with their healthcare team.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
A mental health condition that can develop after a traumatic experience. Symptoms may include intrusive memories, nightmares, avoidance and feeling constantly on edge. Only a qualified professional can assess and diagnose PTSD.
R
Rainbow Baby
A term some families use for a baby born after a previous pregnancy loss or the death of a baby. The term can represent hope after a period of grief, although not every parent identifies with it.
Remembering Every Baby
Every baby matters, and every family's experience deserves to be acknowledged. Baby Loss Retreat believes parents should feel able to speak about their baby, remember their life and receive support in a way that respects their wishes.
Resilience
The ability to adapt and find ways to cope during difficult experiences. Resilience does not mean forgetting a baby, being strong all the time or never needing help.
S
Self-Care
Small steps that support physical and emotional wellbeing, such as resting, eating regularly, taking time outside or asking someone for help. Self-care looks different for everyone.
Stillbirth
Stillbirth generally refers to the birth of a baby who has died before birth after 24 completed weeks of pregnancy.
Support Network
The people and services a parent can turn to for support, including partners, family, friends, healthcare professionals, counsellors and bereavement organisations.
T
Termination for Medical Reasons (TFMR)
When a pregnancy is ended because of a serious medical condition affecting the baby or the pregnant person's health. This can be an extremely difficult experience, and families may need compassionate bereavement support.
Trauma
An emotional response to an experience that feels deeply distressing or overwhelming. Baby loss and the circumstances surrounding it can be traumatic for some parents.
Triggers
People, places, dates, sounds or situations that bring back painful memories or emotions associated with a loss. Triggers can appear unexpectedly, including during anniversaries, family celebrations or pregnancy announcements.
W
What Not to Say
Comments intended to reassure, such as “At least you know you can get pregnant” or “Everything happens for a reason,” may unintentionally cause more pain. Listening without trying to explain the loss is often more helpful.
What to Say
There is no perfect thing to say to someone who has lost a baby. Simple words such as “I'm so sorry,” “I'm here for you” or “Would you like to talk about your baby?” can offer comfort.
You Are Not Alone
If you or someone you know has experienced baby loss, we are here to help you find the support that is right for you. You do not need to have the right words.
Get in Touch