Bereavement

If you are visiting this page because you have suffered a still birth or miscarriage, we would like to say how sorry we are for your loss. You need to allow yourself time to grieve for your baby. The emotions you will experience are incredibly powerful, so be good to yourself too and don't take on anything too demanding until you feel ready. Remember grieving is a very personal process with no time limit or "right way" to do it.

Click here, to find out more about Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Bereavement Care, including:

The dedicated bereavement room
Memory making
Clothing
Book of Remembrance
Spiritual and pastoral care, and much more.

Above: Best Beginnings video on bereavement.

Bereavement Specialist Midwives

Michelle Powell: 07512795823
Charlotte Tongue: 07871986895

Urgent queries

Delivery suite (24hrs) Telephone number: 01952 565924

Hope House Children’s Hospice
Tel: 01691 671 999
www.hopehouse.org.uk

IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies)
Telford and Wrekin Tel: 01952 457415
Shropshire County Tel: 0300 123 6020

Cruse Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin
Cruse Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin have volunteer counsellors trained by the Foundation for Infant loss. Parents or other family members can refer themselves on 0845 6066812. Their services are free of charge and via Zoom.

Tel: 0845 6066812

Email: shropshire@cruse.org.uk

www.cruse.org.uk

People react in different way to loss. Anxiety and helplessness often come first. Anger is also common, including feeling angry at someone who has died for "leaving you behind". Sadness often comes later.

Feelings like these are a natural part of the grieving process. Knowing that they are common may help them seem more normal. It's also important to know that they will pass.

Some people take a lot longer than others to recover. Some need help from a counsellor or therapist or their GP.

But you will eventually come to terms with your loss, and the intense feeling will subside.

There's no instant fix. You might feel affected every day for about a year to 18 months after a major loss. But after this time the grief is less likely to be at the forefront of your mind.

There are practical things you can do to get through a time of bereavement or loss:

Express yourself. Talking is often a good way to soothe painful emotions. Talking to a friend, family member, health professional or counsellor can begin the healing process.
Allow yourself to feel sad. It's a healthy part of the grieving process.
Keep your routine up. Keeping up simple things like walking the dog can help.
Sleep. Emotional strain can make you very tired. If you're having trouble sleeping, see your GP.
Eat healthily. A healthy, well-balanced diet will help you cope.
Avoid things that "numb" the pain, such as alcohol. It will make you feel worse one the numbness wears off.
Go to counselling if it feels right for you - but perhaps not straight away. Counselling may be more useful after a couple of weeks or months. Only you will know when you're ready.

Get help if any of the following apply to you:

You don't feel able to cope with overwhelming emotions or daily life
The intense emotions are not subsiding
You're not sleeping
You have symptoms of depression and/or anxiety
Your relationships are suffering
You're having sexual problems
You're becoming accident-prone
You're caring for someone who isn't coping well
You can't get out of bed
You neglect yourself or your family - for example, you don't eat properly
You feel you can't go on without the person you've lost
The emotion is so intense it's affecting the rest of your life - for example, you can't face going to work or you're taking your anger out on someone else

Your GP is a good place to start. They can give you advice about other support services, refer you to a counsellor, or prescribe medication if needed. Or, you can contact support organisations directly, such as Cruse Bereavement Care (0808 808 1677) or Samaritans (116 123).

Some people turn to alcohol or drugs during difficult times. Get help cutting down on alcohol, or see the Frank website for information on drugs

SANDS (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society)

Offers support and information for anyone affected by the death of a baby, before or after birth. National helpline, local parent-led support, literature, and online support.

Tel: 020 7436 7940 (general enquiries); Tel: 0808 164 3332 (support)

www.sands.org.uk

sands.org.uk/app

Shropshire SANDs is a local support group running friendly and relaxed meeting, providing bereaved parents, families and friends with an opportunity to meet others who have been through a similar experience.

Support meetings are held:

Where: Meeting Point House, Southwater Square, Telford TF3 4HS

When: 2^nd Tuesday of each month 19:00-21:00hrs.

Support Group for dads

Dad Still Standing is an online group created as a way of helping other dads along their journey with grief. To discuss the difficulties they go through in bereavement, both in the immediate aftermath of baby loss and as time moves on.

https://www.dadstillstanding.com/

Child Bereavement UK

Child Bereavement UK helps children, young people, parents and families to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies. They support children and young people up to the age of 25 who are facing bereavement, and anyone affected by the death of a child of any age.

Child Bereavement UK

Helpline: 0800 0288840

Email: helpline@childbereavementuk.org

Saying Goodbye Charity

Saying Goodbye provides comprehensive information, advice, support and much more to anyone who has suffered the loss of a baby, at any stage of pregnancy, at birth or in infancy.

https://www.sayinggoodbye.org/

Tel: 0300 3231350

Email: support@sayinggoodbye.org

Lullaby Trust

Bereavement support after the death of a baby or child

www.lullabytrust.org.uk

Support: 0808 8026868

Email: support@lullabytrust.org.uk

Lily Mae Foundation

Baby loss support service

Tel: 01676 535716

www.lilymaefoundation.org

Miscarriage Association

01924 200 799

www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk

Email: info@miscarriageassociation.org.uk

Multiple Births Foundation (MBF)

Provides support and information for multiple birth families (including bereavement support)

www.multiplebirths.org.uk

Tel: 07360 735050

Email: mbf@bcu.ac.uk

Aching Arms (Supporting Arms)

Aching Arms offers direct support to parents via their Supporting Arms support service, a telephone and email support service which is run by bereaved parents. The service offers families the chance to talk to someone who has an understanding of what they’re going through and helps them feel they’re not alone.

Tel: 07464 508994

Email: support@achingarms.co.uk

Remember My Baby Remembrance Photography

UK-based charity who have professional photographers who voluntarily provide their photography services to parents whose baby dies before, during or shortly after birth.

www.remembermybaby.org.uk

Freephone: 0808 189 2345

Email: info@remembermybaby.org.uk

Samaritans

Offers confidential support that is available 24 hours a day to people who need to talk.

Tel: 116 123 (UK) free

Tommy’s

Miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth charity who offer support following a pregnancy loss

Baby loss information and support | Tommy’s (tommys.org)

Email: midwife@tommys.org

Tel: 0800 014 7800

Twins Trust Bereavement Support Group