17th January 2023
The death of a baby at any time during or shortly after pregnancy can cause great sadness for a woman and her family.
This week’s episode of Belfast Midwives, the Channel 4 docuseries following midwives in Belfast Trust, follows the story of a couple expecting twins, but their pregnancy isn’t straightforward. Their baby girls are sharing an amniotic sac and a placenta meaning there is a high risk they won’t survive. Sadly, many families experience pregnancy and baby loss and throughout the series there are a number of families and staff who bravely share their experiences of baby loss.
To help support families through their bereavements, Belfast Trust has two Childbirth and Loss Midwives who provide extra support to women and families who have experienced a loss at any stage while being cared for by our maternity and community services. The team also work closely with a range of support organisations including Sands Northern Ireland, the Miscarriage Association and Tommy’s. You can find a full list and contact details here
Childbirth and Loss Midwife, Barbara Gergett, said,
“Support services for bereaved families has evolved and improved over the years, but I think the most important thing to recognise is that family and friends can also provide support by listening and acknowledging that the loss has happened, regardless of the gestation. It really does not matter how long you have been pregnant, for women and families it’s their hopes and dreams that they’ve lost. So, it’s very powerful to see the story being told in Belfast Midwives for women and families who have experienced loss to have that acknowledgement of how devastating it is, to let them know that they are not alone and that support is available.”
You can find more information on the support offered by our Bereavement Support Service in the Royal Jubilee Maternity Service here or watch the short video below.