Baby Loss Awareness Week 2022

#babyloss #blaw #blaw22 #pregnancyloss Oct 09, 2022

Today is the first day of Baby Loss Awareness Week 2022.

This event has been running for 20 years now and has sought not just to bring awareness to the tragic issue of baby loss but also to increase awareness about the importance of acknowledging that traumatic event when it happens.

Today more professionals are realising the continued difficultly that bereaved parents face as the well-wishers disappear, the anxiety continues to rise and they try to cope with the re-triggering nature of future pregnancies.

Sadly, so often people do not know what to say or how to acknowledge baby loss when it does happen but we know it means so much to parents when their loss and grief is compassionately and sensitively acknowledged.

Conversely to not be acknowledged at all can really compound parents’ grief and upset.

 As can careless and insensitive words.

The Sonographer who says, ‘I’m sorry it wasn’t meant to be this time’ when there is no detection of heartbeat.

The Obstetrician who mentions the ‘Removal of the products of conception’ when talking about a D&C after a miscarriage.

It seems such a simple thing to say:

“I heard your baby died, I am so sorry to hear that happened. It must be really tough right now, is there anything I can do to help?’

Parents who have lost a baby often explain how much it means to them to have the opportunity to talk about their baby, to remember them and talk about them with fondness. These memories are precious moments that are an important part of grieving and remembrance.

Baby loss will always be traumatic and sometimes that trauma can leave parents experiencing high levels of anxiety and panic. 

The BLAW ‘Out of Sight’ report from 2019 found that 60% of bereaved parents felt they needed specialist psychological support for their mental health, but were not able to access it on the NHS.

Baby loss is often viewed as one of the worst traumas that someone can endure yet there is no national pathway available for parents experiencing baby or pregnancy loss.

To support BLAW I am offering a 30% discount on the online course Supporting Baby Loss & Miscarriage.

Use the code BLAW30 at the checkout.

10% off all sales this week will go to Sands the baby loss charity.

This online course includes a live training option allowing students the dual benefit of lifetime access to the online material PLUS the opportunity to practice some of the exercises during the live training over Zoom.

The live training day is December 5th 2022 and will happen over Zoom.

It is therefore excellent value at the discounted price of £244.30 (normally £349) or £84 per month on a 3 month payment plan. 

This online course comprises of 7 modules that cover:

  • Understanding the impact of pregnancy and baby loss
  • Understanding Grief
  • Understanding trauma symptoms in relation to grief
  • Listening Well
  • Pregnancy after baby loss
  • Video case study - Sarah's story
  • Video case study - Leila's story

Give you confidence in your service and avoid making the mistakes that alienate many traumatised, bereaved parents who unfortunately often feel let down by friends, family and professionals when seeking support.

Learn how our own experience, biases and prejudices can slip us up when it comes to supporting loss and grief.

Gain a valuable insight into what bereaved parents want and need at different stages of their grief journey because grief changes as time goes on.

Learn practical exercises that can help parents cope with trauma symptoms and with panic and anxiety. 

Practice these exercises on our live training day on Monday 5th December over Zoom.

Learn from video case studies included in the online course that demonstrate the core skills required to hold space for parents who are grieving. 

Feel supported in a closed online community who are all learning, honing and practicing the skills.

Work safely with access to free, small group supervision every month.

Take a look at detailed course content by clicking the link here.

Find out what you will gain from taking this course, and how making an investment in yourself and your service will change the lives of the parents that you work with.

Here is what some recent TBR students had to say about the course.

‘Really useful course, has definitely given me an insight on supporting parents as part of my role as a counsellor. Was a brilliant course and really liked being able to go back over things as a refresh when i needed to. Would definitely recommend this course.’ Counsellor Jackie Hare

'Brilliant course. I would definitely recommend to others. Thank you :)Michelle Arthur