The womb,
in expectation, thickens with fertile blood
Giving
life to hope and hope to life;
Not every
pregnancy ends happily. Human reproduction, although evolutionary successful,
is wasteful and inefficient especially in the first third of pregnancy. Less
commonly, the pregnancy is lost later than this; the psychological impact on
the woman and her family can be immense whatever time the loss occurs Answers
are not always readily available to explain the loss. Support can be patchy and
transient.
The purpose of counselling is to: Ø Be Non-judgemental Ø Be allowed to talk, cry, shout and be expressive Ø Be listened to Ø Explore, discover, clarify the causes of the loss as best as possible Ø Offer ongoing support Ø Explore realistic possibilities for resolution and about the future Ø Address any medical reasons for the loss and prepare for any possible future pregnancy including management issues. Most medium to long-term support to bereaved parents and families is offered by charities. Support through the NHS tends to be patchy and limited. We offer counselling services in the acute phase but can also arrange long-term follow up with an experienced counselor for those in need of continuing care. We are also able assist in case analysis in order to learn for experiences and help answer those questions which are often outstanding. Useful Contacts Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society The Miscarriage Association Cruse Bereavement Care
