NEW HOPE

The loss of a baby during pregnancy, birth, or shortly afterwards can be one of the most devastating experiences any parent can go through. Launched in 2021 the Silver Birch Hubs is working to help those who are struggling.

Aservice set up to support mothers who are experiencing neonatal or maternity distress says it is busier than ever. Silver Birch Hubs, which is staffed by therapists, psychologists, specialist midwives and peer support workers and offering what they describe as ‘rounded care’, says that more women are willing to seek help on sensitive (and potentially painful) topics such as difficult births, miscarriage and still birth.

Zara Cannon is one such mum. Her first baby, Franklin, was born prematurely and died after complications at just five months. She has spoken about trying to deal with her grief and anxiety and the effect that this was having on her during her second pregnancy. “I couldn’t sleep properly,” she says, “it was a constant nightmare, I was afraid of a recurrence.”

“I couldn’t quite understand why I was having all these feelings but the people at Silver Birch explained this is how our brains work. And importantly for me, through group sessions, I met with other mums who were in a similar position. Spending time with them was so helpful, we were all in the same boat. We formed a healing, therapeutic bond – it was like wrapping ourselves in this mutually supporting comfort blanket.”

Others too have spoken of the importance of this inclusive and supportive approach. Mother of two and peer support worker Debbie suffered three miscarriages and says maternal mental health is still ‘a bit of a taboo’. “With peer support, you can break down your feelings of shame and find answers to your unanswered questions,” she says. “It sends the message that you are human.”

Following contact with a mental health midwife in the run up to the birth of her son Marcus, Zara was referred to the Silver Birch Hubs. It was here, she says, that things started to became clearer.

Zara is an enthusiastic advocate of what the Hub is aiming to do. “What I would say to anyone who finds themselves in this situation is that you’re not alone. I know that it’s difficult, I know there are times when you don’t feel strong enough and everything seems so dark, but there is hope. I encourage you 100 per cent to seek out the help that is out there for you.”

Find Out More

Silver Birch Hubs offer psychological therapy and support to women who have experienced:

• Birth trauma

• Extreme fear of childbirth

• Miscarriage and stillbirth

• Loss of their baby while on a maternity ward or a neonatal ward

• Removal of their baby from a maternity hospital into social care

You can be referred to the service by any healthcare professional such as midwives, health visitors, GPs, social workers, therapists or counsellors.

Appointments may be virtual, using video technology, by phone or face to face.

Find out more at: merseycare.nhs.uk