Support for you
Where you and the people around you can find help
Talk to someone now
You don’t have to cope on your own. Support is available for you, your partner and the people around you.
Talk to someone now
These free helplines are run by people who understand pregnancy loss:
Miscarriage UK support line and live chat
Phone, live chat and WhatsApp with trained support workers. The support line offers free interpreters in over 250 languages and a BSL video relay service.
Tommy's Helpline
A free helpline run by Tommy's midwives.
Sands helpline
Free bereavement support for anyone affected by pregnancy or baby loss.
Saying Goodbye
Support, befrienders and information for anyone who has lost a baby at any stage of pregnancy.
If you are struggling to cope, you can contact Samaritans at any time, or text Shout 24 hours a day.
Looking after yourself
Counselling can help you make sense of what has happened. You can refer yourself to NHS Talking Therapies without seeing your GP first, and some charities offer free counselling after pregnancy loss.
Many people also find it helps to talk to others who have been through the same thing, whether in a support group or online.
Support for partners
Partners are affected by miscarriage too, but they can sometimes feel overlooked. They may feel they need to stay strong, or not know where to turn for help. Support services are there for partners as well.
A loss can affect your relationship in different ways. It can help to talk openly with each other about how you are feeling, even if you are coping differently.
Family and Friends
If someone close to you has had a miscarriage, you may not know what to say. Acknowledging their loss, listening and offering practical help can make a real difference. There is also guidance on how to talk to children about a loss in a way that suits their age.
Faith and culture can shape how people experience and talk about loss, and there is support available that respects this.
If you are worried about your health
If you have bleeding, pain or any other worries, contact your Early Pregnancy Unit, your GP or NHS 111. In an emergency, call 999.
Work, rights and practical help
You may need time off work after a miscarriage, whether to recover physically, to attend appointments or to grieve. You have rights at work, and help is available if you need it.
Time off and pay
If you need time off after a miscarriage, you can take sick leave. Sickness related to pregnancy is protected by law, so your employer must not treat you unfairly because of it.
The law is changing. From April 2027, you and your partner will have the right to up to two weeks’ leave after a pregnancy loss before 24 weeks. This leave will be unpaid, although some employers may choose to pay it, and you will be entitled to it from your first day in a job.
Talking to your employer
You don’t have to tell your employer everything, and you can choose how much to share. You might want to ask for a phased return to work, flexible hours or time off for appointments. Your employer may also have a pregnancy loss policy.
Recognising your loss
If you live in England, you can request a free baby loss certificate to recognise a pregnancy lost before 24 weeks. It is optional and is not a legal document.
Remembering your baby
Some people find it helps to mark their loss in some way, while others don’t, and that’s OK too. There is no right or wrong way to remember.
Ideas that other people have shared include:
- planting a tree or flowers
- keeping a memory box
- writing a letter
- giving your baby a name
- holding a small ceremony
Some hospitals hold remembrance services, and charities run free services across the UK and online.
Baby Loss Awareness Week takes place from 9 to 15 October every year. It ends with the Wave of Light, when people light a candle at 7pm in memory of babies who have died.
