Bereavement and counselling services

Bereavement and Counselling Services – Women’s Health

Maternity - bereavement services Having a baby can be one of the most exciting events in our lives. Unfortunately, however, a small number of babies will be miscarried, stillborn or die soon after birth. The death of a baby can be a devastating experience and the effects of grief overwhelming. Whilst the loss affects the whole family and their friends, the mother is especially vulnerable as she must cope with both the emotional turmoil of losing her baby and the physical process of birth.

The Women’s Health Bereavement team offers support to all families where a baby has died, whether during pregnancy or after birth. We are committed to supporting each individual journey through bereavement, ensuring that the loss of a baby is treated with respect, and always accepting the existence of different cultures, beliefs, traditions and values. One of the bereavement team, along with midwife and nurse colleagues, will guide the family through their bereavement journey, providing information and creating time and space to make memories with their baby. We provide an essential point of contact for families during this difficult time.

We also offer contact with a specialist midwife/nurse who is a trained counsellor.

A service of Remembrance and Reflection is held every year in the Hospital Chapel at Royal Preston Hospital on the first Sunday in October at 3pm.

Specialist midwife / counsellor: 01772 524575

Womens Health bereavement liaison officer: 01772 523655

Email: womenshealth.bereavement@lthtr.nhs.uk

Further information

Leaflets:

Counselling services [pdf] 141KB

Helpful web sites:

Antenatal Results and Choices www.arc-uk.org Tel: 020 7713 7486

SANDS www.uk-sands.org Tel: 020 7436 5881

The Compassionate Friends UK www.tcf.org.uk Helpline 0845 123 2304