When grief can effect the entire family

Anna Stewart, Bereavement Midwife at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, talks about the help and support she provides to bereaved families and how she works with colleagues across the organisation.
Losing a baby in pregnancy or at birth is an extremely distressing time for the entire family unit. It is natural to feel low, but everyone deals with grief in their own way; it is important to remember that how people react is valid for them.
My role as a bereavement midwife in our maternity services is to care for families from around 14 weeks into their pregnancy to full term. This also includes me being there for them if they have experienced a miscarriage, late fetal loss, stillbirth, neonatal death or a termination for medical reasons.
I support families at diagnosis, birth and postnatally and remain their single point of contact for support and guidance until they have their appointment with a consultant, where we may be able to understand why their baby died. Sadly, some families don’t get an answer and there is lots of research being undertaken nationally to further understand the reasons and causes of baby loss.
I work closely with colleagues across Torbay and South Devon NHS, including my maternity colleagues, chaplaincy team and with teams working out in the community. I am passionate about helping families and ensuring that they are aware and have the opportunity to access the wide range of support that we provide.
We also collate legal paperwork and support families with arrangements, such as funerals, registration and memory making once baby is born. Families may wish to think about how they want their baby to be remembered, which includes signing our book of remembrance, a plaque in our memory garden and attending an annual remembrance service.
For families who have lost a baby and become pregnant again, I am on hand to provide support during what can be a frightening and anxious time following their previous experience.
Supporting my colleagues is also a big part of what I do. This includes providing training for midwives, maternity support workers and other teams, and me supporting them to provide the best possible care to our bereaved families.
I am the organisation’s lead for the National Bereavement Care Pathway (NBCP), which is being rolled out throughout our services. This will ensure that families receive a consistent and high- standard of bereavement care, regardless of their gestation.
Although I support families during one of the most difficult times of their life, it is incredibly rewarding to know that I have played a small part in supporting them through this challenging time.
Earlier this year, I was humbled to be nominated in the People’s Choice Award category of the Our People Awards; Torbay and South Devon’s all staff recognition scheme.
To be nominated by a mum for the support I provided when they lost their little boy, and during their next pregnancy, highlighted the importance of our bereavement work and made me feel incredibly proud.
In December, we will be holding our annual little one’s remembrance service and craft activity session. Organised with maternity, chaplaincy and community colleagues alongside local parents, the weekend includes a craft morning as well as a special remembrance service.
This year, the craft morning will be taking place on Saturday, December 2 at Bayview Restaurant at Torbay Hospital, and the remembrance service will take place at All Saints Church in Babbacombe on Sunday, December 3.
The craft morning is an opportunity for all ages to craft in a friendly, supportive environment. A really special part of the service sees families remember their little one with a name or message on a star which is then hung on a tree.
All families who have been affected by the loss of a little one are invited to attend. Please look out on Torbay and South Devon’s website and social media channels for more information or call our chaplaincy team on 01803 654186.