Sadly, sometimes a pregnancy does not continue beyond a few weeks or a baby dies during the pregnancy. This can be an overwhelming time for the parents, with many mixed emotions such as sadness, anger, guilt or disbelief. These are all normal feelings and there is no right or wrong way to react.
The important thing to know is that you are not alone. There is help from NHS Lothian Maternity Services and local or national charities to support you and your partner at this difficult time. Your midwife or doctor will be there to guide you and help you access the support which is the most suitable for you, your partner and your family.
We hope you find the information you need on this page. Please, talk to your midwife or doctor if you have any questions.
NHS Lothian Pregnancy Support Centre
The Pregnancy Support Centre provides specialist care until twelve weeks of pregnancy.
If you are LESS THAN 12 WEEKS PREGNANT and are concerned with abdominal pain or bleeding, please contact:
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh – Pregnancy Support Centre 0131 242 2438
St John’s Hospital – Early Pregnancy Unit 01506 524 015
The Miscarriage Association
NHS Lothian works closely with the Miscarriage Association which offers a range of support and resources, including an information section on their website, help to discuss feelings and a phone helpline.
Call the helpline here 01924 200799 open Monday – Friday from 9am-4pm.
For information on local support offered by the Miscarriage Association, please phone the local coordinators Nicky (0131 447 5038) or Lindsay ( 07929 727 189).
Held in Our Hearts
NHS Lothian partners with Held in Our Hearts, an organisation that offers person-centred support to bereaved families. Part of this support includes Hospital to Home (H2H), a bespoke service that supports families in the transition from hospital to home, helping to ensure that no family falls through the gap and goes home without bereavement support when they leave the hospital.
You can contact them here 0131 622 6263 or via email at
info@heldinourhearts.org.uk.
NHS Scotland Resources
NHS Scotland offers advice and information to parents following an unexpected loss of pregnancy.
NHS Inform Webpage
Losing a Baby
Information and support for anyone affected by the loss of a baby during pregnancy, at birth or shortly after—offering guidance on what to expect, where to find help and how to access emotional and practical support.
After Losing a Baby
Support and guidance for life after losing a baby, including emotional wellbeing, practical matters and ways to seek help as you navigate grief and healing.
NHS Scotland Leaflets
I think I’m having a miscarriage
This leaflet provides clear and compassionate guidance for individuals who believe they may be experiencing a miscarriage. It outlines common symptoms—such as abdominal pain, cramping and vaginal bleeding—and advises when to seek medical attention. The resource also offers information on what to expect during medical assessments, available support services, and emphasizes the importance of emotional wellbeing during this difficult time.
After a miscarriage
This leaflet offers compassionate guidance for individuals who have experienced a miscarriage. It covers physical recovery, emotional wellbeing, and considerations for future pregnancies. The resource also provides information on available support services and emphasizes the importance of seeking help during this difficult time.
Miscarriage: Dads and partners
This leaflet is designed for partners of those who have experienced a miscarriage. It offers suggestions on how to provide support, addresses the emotional impact on partners, and encourages open communication. The resource also highlights the importance of seeking support and provides information on available services.
NHS Lothian Bereavement Service
This service provides practical support to parents. Depending on your circumstances, we can help with registration processes, funeral options and arrangements and can also signpost families to the bereavement support most suited to them.
You can contact them here 0131 242 6995 or 0131 242 1996 (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm) or via email at: bereavement.service@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
Support from Local and National Charities
We recognise that losing a baby during pregnancy is a deeply painful and often heartbreaking experience. It can feel overwhelming, isolating, and difficult to put into words. You may find it hard to connect with others who truly understand what you’re going through. Reaching out for support might feel like the hardest step—but you are not alone, and help is here when you’re ready.
If it feels too difficult to make contact yourself, a family member, friend or healthcare professional can reach out to these charities on your behalf.
Held in Our Hearts
An Lothian-based charity providing support to affected families. Their counsellors guide bereaved parents through the grieving process and their peer supporters are all bereaved parents who offer flexible care. Their aim is to offer the best, individualised support to families at all times. Families can contact them directly or someone can refer on their behalf.
You can contact them here 0131 622 6263 or via email at
info@heldinourhearts.org.uk.
ARC (Antenatal Results and Choices)
A national charity that offers support for parents who have lost a baby after news that the baby has a genetic or physical condition or is not developing as expected. They provide various resources, including password-protected and moderated groups for parents.
Call their helpline Monday to Friday 10:00 am – 5:30 pm 020 7713 7486 or text 07908 683004.
Tuesday and Thursday: 8 – 10pm – email info@arc-uk.org to arrange an evening call.
Miscarriage Association Helpline
Their staffed pregnancy loss helpline is available from 9am to 4pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and from 9am to 8pm on Wednesdays and Fridays, to provide support and information on miscarriage and pregnancy loss.
You can contact them here 01924 200799.
Simba
A charity that supports families following the loss of a baby. They help those grieving create precious moments to honour their memory through a personal approach. One of the most important things they offer is a Memory Box, each one unique, handmade with love.
You can contact them here 0131 353 0055.
Sands
A national charity providing help to parents affected by miscarriage, pregnancy loss and the death of a baby. They provide a variety of resources and various forms of support.
Call their helpline 0808 164 3332 or reach out via email helpline@sands.org.uk.
Little Babes Support Group
A peer support Facebook group to support women and their partners in the Edinburgh area. This page is a safe, private space to share your thoughts and feelings. They also arrange regular coffee catch ups to meet in person.
Spiritual Care
Spiritual care is part of the care offered by the NHS. It recognises that our beliefs, values, and understanding of life can help us cope at times of illness, change or bereavement.
Chaplains offer spiritual care to patients, their family and loved ones, as well as to staff and volunteers. They listen to your story, offering space for reflection, supporting you at times of loss, and by facilitating prayer, blessings, ritual and celebration.
If you are a patient in hospital and would like to speak to a chaplain, we can be contacted via ward staff or you may phone our offices 0131 242 1990.
If you are not in a hospital, or should you need to speak with us urgently, please call Switchboard 0131 536 1000.
Memorial Book of Pregnancy and Baby Loss
To support families through a difficult time, the Memorial Book was launched in October 2023. It offers a meaningful way to acknowledge your baby’s existence and may provide comfort to those who wish to have a lasting record of their loss. The book was created in response to parents who shared how important it is to have their baby recognised, even when the loss occurred before 24 weeks of pregnancy.
In the UK, the law currently defines 24 weeks as the age of viability, which can be difficult to accept when a baby dies later in pregnancy but is still considered a miscarriage rather than a stillbirth. This means there is no legal process for registering the death of a baby before 24 weeks. In response to campaigns by bereaved parents, National Records of Scotland now offers a voluntary way to register a pregnancy loss or the death of a baby before this legal threshold.
There is no time limit for applying to the Memorial Book—you can apply at any point, whether your loss was recent or happened years ago. Each entry is completely voluntary, and a commemorative certificate is provided free of charge to those who choose to apply.
Helping you make a decision about a post mortem
We hope that this film, made by parents for parents, will help you with making your decision about whether to have a post mortem for your baby. We hope knowing others have faced the same decision, will help you feel less alone at this painful time and give you some comfort and help you make an informed choice to decide what is best for your family.
