How to support parents who are quietly grieving this Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is a time for celebration – but for some, it’s also a reminder of loss and heartbreak. Miscarriage, pregnancy complications, and baby loss affect millions of families in the UK, yet these experiences are often left unspoken. For parents who have been through this, the silence can feel isolating.

In fact, recent research from pregnancy charity Tommy’s found that more than half of UK adults shy away from conversations about baby loss, often because they’re afraid of saying the wrong thing. But staying quiet can make grief feel even heavier.

To break the silence, at Tommy’s launched Projecting Life, a campaign designed to encouraging open conversations about baby loss and its lifelong impact.

Dr. Jyotsna Vohra, Director of Research, Programmes and Impact at Tommy’s, explains:
“The trauma of pregnancy loss or giving birth prematurely is too often compounded by a sense of isolation and even shame. We must end the silence around these experiences and move further and faster towards our goal of making pregnancy and birth safe for everyone.”

For parents navigating loss or spending Mother’s Day with a baby in hospital, kind words and small moments of care can mean the world. That’s why Tommy’s has created a helpful conversation guide, offering simple advice on how to gently support someone going through this kind of grief. It covers:

– Easy ways to reach out and show you care
– What to say (and what to avoid)
– How to listen without trying to ‘fix’ the situation

These conversations matter not just between friends and family, but in the workplace too. Pregnancy loss and complications don’t stop when someone comes to work – and compassionate support from employers can make a huge difference. Tommy’s has also created expert-led resources and training for businesses, helping managers and HR teams feel confident supporting employees through complex pregnancy journeys.

This Mother’s Day, it’s worth remembering that not all mums will be surrounded by flowers and cards – some will simply be hoping someone asks how they’re really doing. And when they do, just listening might be the most powerful thing of all.

For more advice on how to support someone through baby loss or a difficult pregnancy, visit www.tommys.org