Our Perinatal Mental Health Team is supporting Baby Loss Awareness Week – a week for bereaved parents, families and friends, to commemorate babies’ lives and raise awareness about pregnancy and baby loss.
This year marks the 20th year of the week and our Perinatal Mental Health Team is taking the opportunity to highlight the support they provide in Gloucestershire, as Perinatal Mental Health Midwife, Jo Sleeman explains:
“We are a part of Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust’s Maternal Mental Health Service, and we work alongside the county’s maternity service to provide specialist support and treatment for women who have suffered mental health difficulties as a result of their baby loss.
“Grieving is a normal reaction to a loss, but we can help when symptoms of grief become overwhelming or for those who experience symptoms including PTSD or severe depression, women should be encouraged to discuss their concerns with their health care provider (GP, Midwife or Health Visitor) who can make a referral to the Maternal Mental Health Service on their behalf”.
To show your support or to remember babies who have died too soon, join the #globalwaveoflight at 7pm on Saturday 15 October. Simply light a candle and leave it burning for at least 1 hour.
Remembrance services are also being held in the county and are open to anyone who has been affected by loss, including:
- The Forget-Me-Not support group is holding a service at 7pm in St Luke’s Church, Cheltenham on Friday 14 Oct (Facebook)
- The Footsteps Service is holding a service at 7pm at Walls Social Club, Barnwood on Thursday 13 Oct (www.footstepscandc.org.uk)
For further information about Baby Loss Awareness Week visit: www.babyloss-awareness.org
