Miscarriage Support Service
You will find both practical information and emotional support resources, to enable you to feel informed and supported throughout your journey. Please know that you are not alone - there is help and support available to you and your partner. You can get in touch with our Bereavement Team should you need support at any time following your loss.
Ellie Brewer is our assigned Bereavement Nurse for Gynaecology.
You can text or call her on 07795450090, or you can call our office on 0121 335 8286. Ellie can also support you whilst you are an inpatient on the ward, and for as long as you need following your visit.
Emotional Support
Birmingham Women’s Hospital Bereavement Team is made up of bereavement nurses and midwives specially trained to support you throughout your journey. We know that pregnancy loss is one of the most difficult experiences a person can go through, both physically and emotionally, and it affects everyone differently.
It is important that you know you are not alone and that help and support are available to you and your partner. If once you are home, you are unsure who to contact or where to get help, you can contact our team and we will help you.
If you would like to access our service whilst in hospital, please ask your nurse to contact us. Alternatively, you can use the contact details below at any time to self-refer. There is no time limit on when you can contact us.
- Ellie’s Work mobile: 07795450090 (M/T/T/F 08:30 – 16:30)
- Team mobile: 07814208435 (Mon-Fri 08:30 - 16:30)
- Office Phone: 0121 335 8286 (24/7 answerphone)
Birmingham Women’s Hospital Chaplaincy Team – Spiritual and Pastoral Support
The multi-faith chaplaincy team at Birmingham Women’s Hospital provide religious, spiritual, and pastoral care to our patients and families. The chaplains are available to support you whilst you are in hospital and when you go home. They can also carry out blessings and rituals for your baby which can be specific to your faith or religion.
Chaplains are usually in the hospital between 8am and 4pm. Ask your ward nurse or bereavement nurse to contact a chaplain or call 0121 333 8526 to self-refer.
Miscarriage Association
The Miscarriage Association provides comprehensive information about pregnancy loss. They run a support helpline, email service, online forums, and nationwide virtual support groups. They also have a number of online leaflets covering a variety of topics around pregnancy loss.
The Miscarriage Association: Pregnancy loss information and support
Cradle
Cradle is a national pregnancy loss charity. They support people through their virtual support group, online forum, and podcast.
Connected (Support Group) | Cradle Charity
The Lily-Mae Foundation
The Lily-Mae Foundation is a Birmingham-based charity that we work very closely with. They support families following loss through 1:1 sessions, support groups, dad-specific support, and memory boxes.
One-to-one baby loss support | The Lily Mae Foundation
Baby Loss Support Group: Informal support for bereaved parents and family
Support for Dads | The Lily Mae Foundation
Edwards Trust
Edwards Trust is a West Midlands-based charity that offers a holistic approach to supporting people through bereavement and loss. They offer counselling, support groups, wellbeing therapies and social events. You can self-refer to all of their services.
COUNSELLING | Edward's Trust (edwardstrust.org.uk)
WELLBEING | Edward's Trust (edwardstrust.org.uk)
Compassion Circle
Compassion Circle is a face-to-face support group for those who have experienced a pregnancy or baby loss, facilitated by peer support workers who have lived experience of loss.
Aching Arms & Supporting Arms
Aching Arms provides support to families following loss in the form of free comfort teddy bears, a telephone and email support line, and an online support group for Dads.
Supporting Arms – the support service from Aching Arms
Saying Goodbye
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. They hold remembrance services around the UK, and their founder, Zoe Clark-Coates has published a number of books to support people through their baby loss journey.
Saying Goodbye - a book by Zoë Clark-Coates MBE
Mariposa Trust Support Leaflet
The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust
The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust is a specialist organisation that supports women and families through ectopic pregnancies. They offer a number of support options, including a helpline, online forums, and virtual support groups. They also have an interpreting and BSL service for those whose first language is not English.
Patient Information Leaflets
Mental Health Support
- NHS - Call 999 if your life is at risk
- NHS - Call 111 if you need help for your mental health but it is not an emergency
- Samaritans – call 116 123 for their 24/7 helpline
- Shout – text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258 to access their crisis text line
- Birmingham and Solihull Urgent Mental Health Helpline – 0121 262 3555 or 0800 915 9292
- Self-refer to Birmingham Healthy Minds for support for depression and anxiety:
- Birmingham Healthy Minds - Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust - BSMHFT
- Maternal Mental Health Service – please ask your bereavement nurse about a referral to the Birmingham Maternal Mental Health Service if you feel you would benefit from specialist mental health support following the loss of your baby.
Support for Partners
Partners need support too. Please find information about support available below, and know that you are not alone.
Supporting Arms — Monthly virtual support group and guided journal resource for Dads.
Lily Mae Foundation — ‘Still Parents’ podcast, 1:1 support, and WhatsApp group for Dads and Grandads.
Miscarriage Association — Resources for dads and partners.
Tommy’s — Resources for partners.
Sands — Virtual support groups, online forums, and football clubs for bereaved men.
Rose and Daisy — Football club for dads who have experienced baby loss (Bromsgrove-based).
Sibling Support
If you have children who are affected by the loss of their sibling, the following organisations offer support to grieving children and their parents.
Support for children | Lily Mae Foundation — Lily-Mae provides sibling packs for children who have experienced loss, as well as offering therapeutic play and days out so that siblings can meet other children who have experienced loss.
Miscarriage Association - Talking to children after miscarriage — This leaflet aims to help you handle miscarriage with children.
Edward's Trust | Helping children and families facing loss and surviving bereavement — Edward’s Trust supports children, young people and families facing loss and surviving bereavement across the West Midlands.
Guy's Gift — Guy’s Gift delivers bereavement support for children and young people throughout Coventry and Warwickshire.
Child Bereavement UK — Child Bereavement UK supports families and educates professionals when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying, or when a child is facing bereavement.