History 1975 - 1984

1975 - 1976 Both Bel Mooney (a journalist) and Hazelanne Lewis (a psychiatric social worker) gave birth to stillborn babies. At that time, most parents were not allowed to see or hold their babies, no photographs were taken and parents were not told where their babies were buried. Bel wrote an article in the Guardian describing her experience, and Hazelanne then wrote to the Guardian and other national newspapers asking parents to contact her so that a guide to improving the care from professionals could be written. An avalanche of replies showed a universal need for support from other bereaved parents.

1977 As a result of this, the National Stillbirth Study Group was set up by Dr David Morris, a paediatrician, and Sandy Bourne and Manny Lewis, two psychiatrists at the Tavistock Clinic. The group was made up of health professionals and representatives from the major bereavement support groups as well as bereaved parents like Hazelanne. It aimed to draw up a booklet, which would help both parents and health care professionals. At the same time the Stillbirth Association, which had been formed by Hazelanne, offered support to parents and established a nationwide befriending network. Thanks to their campaigning, the Registrar General agreed to change "Certificate for the Disposal of Stillborn Babies" to "Certificate for the Burial of Stillborn Babies".

1978 - 1981 The Stillbirth Association became the Stillbirth and Perinatal Death Association (SPDA), and the fight to get it registered as a charity began. This was given a boost when they were presented with the Queens Award for Industry in 1978. The Charity Commissioners would only accept that SPDA's cause was charitable if its members would declare that all bereaved parents were mentally ill.

It was not until 1980 that the Commissioners accepted that supporting bereaved parents was a charitable aim. The charity was finally registered in 1981 after it had held its first AGM and ratified its constitution. Meanwhile, The Loss of Your Baby was first published in 1979. Initially hospitals were using it to train midwives rather than giving it to parents and within two years practice had improved in every hospital in the country.

In 1981, through pressurising the government SPDA succeeded in obtaining for mothers the same right to exemption from NHS charges after the death of their baby that was allowed to mothers whose babies lived.

1982 - 1984 As a result of pressure from SPDA, Mrs Thatcher agreed that parents should be allowed to have a copy of the Stillbirth Registration Certificate and to have their baby's name written on the certificate. The Association also received its first grant from the DHSS, and employed its first member of staff, an administrator.

In 1984 SPDA became the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society (SANDS).