Held In Our Hearts: baby loss counselling and support

Angie chats today to Heather Taylor, our Principal Peer Supporter, who talks about her own journey as a bereaved parent to her precious daughter Eilidh, who died 26 years ago and to Mhairi Hayes, whose much loved daughter, Niamh died in early 2020. Together they reflect on the differences and similarities on the steps that they took on the road, when they reached out for support, how they found the support that was available and what they might have done differently if they knew what they know now. They also talk about how much support friends and family can give and the challenges that they faced and the importance of simply being there in support, sometimes with no words, but just a listening ear and a hand to hold. We discussed how much things have changed over the years in terms of understanding around baby loss, but also the need for more compassion in the workplace and for more open conversations about baby loss and the support that bereaved parents need.

In this episode, Nicola talks to Heather, Lindsay and Katy who are all peer supports at Held In Our Hearts.  They discuss many aspects of peer support and answer questions from the public about their role and the support they offer bereaved parents.   If you have ever wondered what peer support is or have wondered if it might help you , then listen in and learn a bit about their vital role within the charity.

Tracy talks to Michael McQuire from Fort William and his incredible journey as a bereaved dad and how he channeled his own grief after the death of his beautiful son Kyle to support others.From setting up the charity Aman Cara and working tirelessly to fund a place that parents can go after the death of their baby.He talks about his dream to see baby loss charities unite and climb his beloved Ben Nevis together and in setting up Big Steps for Small Feet that dream became a reality in 2021 and again in 2022 where 74 hardy souls were about to  tackle Snowdon in Wales.He talks about his love for his daughter Amelia and his wife Rachel who have worked hard to support his challenges and how he is grateful to everyone who has made it possible to work together on such amazing projects.

Angie talks to Nicola Welsh, CEO and our two new Hospital to Home Workers, Jenni Morris and Christy Mulvaney about our new pilot project, supporting families alongside NHS Lothian colleagues, as they transition from a hospital to community setting. We spoke about the fact that it is Mental Health Awareness Week and the theme is loneliness, so it felt apt to share more about this project, which will help to address the overwhelming loneliness that families face after their baby has died.Nicola talked about her own journey as a bereaved mum to Theo and how isolating those early days were and how the project came about from her own experience, as well as listening to other bereaved parents, who did not get support from the start. We spoke about the challenges of how difficult it can be for families to reach out and ask for help and make that first phone call or write that first email and how this project aims to take that burden away, ensuring families are supported from the outset.Jenni and Christy talked about how they became involved in the charity and what their hopes are for this new project and their collective passion for ensuring there is equity in access to support for all bereaved families. We then discussed about the challenges that there may be getting the project up and running, but also the opportunities that there are to fundamentally change the way that baby loss bereavement care is offered, reaching in, rather than families having to reach out.We hope that this episode helps share more about our new project and gives a better understanding of how it will fit with the current peer support and specialist counselling services that we offer to families. We also hope that it gives comfort to those listening who may be newly bereaved to know that this service is available or for those who are longer ago bereaved to know that we are continuing to listen to families’ needs and find ways to improve our compassionate care and support.For more information and support on how Held In Our Hearts can support you or a loved one, please visit https://heldinourhearts.org.uk

Today Tracy Watt talks to Maureen Scott about her journey as a midwife.They talk about the challenges she faced as a new midwife and her journey with Held In Our HeartsShe talks about her own family and in growing up it was never a career that she had thought about. Maureen talks about events that nearly stopped her becoming a midwife after being brutally attacked on her way to work and how friends and family helped her to face the traumatic weeks and months ahead.  She explains how that she was not going to let him win and that she went on to become the person she is today, making sure that families get the best care.Maureen and Tracy chat about the challenges that midwives face now. They discuss how important the training given by Held In Our Hearts has become and also how support for newly trained staff is so crucial, even more so since the pandemic, when resources have been so stretched.They chat about their own personal journey and how on a spring evening on 26th April 1991, Maureen looked after Tracy who went through the unimaginable pain of watching her son Lewis pass away after 19 hours. Maureen was there to support Tracy, showing her how to be a mother, when the reality facing her was the Lewis was not going home. They talk about how they reconnected after many years, ran together and even made it to the newspapers.We hope this episode helps current, future midwives and families listening, in knowing that each journey is unique and how times have changed but ultimately it is about delivering the best of care at the worst of times .

In this podcast we talk about grandparents and their own unique grief journey.Michelle and Ann discuss anniversaries and how as time moves on, their love for their grandchildren grows.We talk about different conversations with other family members and navigating others through a complex time.

This podcast's topic is about bereaved dads using sports as a way to cope with their grief.Tracy Watt chats to Richard Skipworth and Fraser Baxter, who share about their own journey of grief as bereaved dads and how their unwavering support for the charity, kept them going through the challenges they set themselves.Richard and Fraser also talk about their funny stories and how through their training for these incredibly tough challenges, they managed to keep going when at times, it simply did not seem possible.We hope that the podcast gives you some comfort, listening to Fraser and Richard share about their own journeys and how they remember their much-loved children.For more information on how Held In Our Hearts can support you or a loved one, please visit https://heldinourhearts.org.uk

This episode features a discussion about sibling support and how children at different ages might grieve differently.   Nicola speaks to Jamie Cameron about the work of Lyle's Light which was established after the loss of Jamie's precious twin daughter Lyle.  Jamie's older daughter Cameron was 5 at the time and she was aware that she needed to support her daughter's grief as well as well as her own.  Nicola and Jamie explore children's grief and discuss the sibling books that are available via the charity which are gifted in memory of Lyle.   We hope that the podcast gives you an insight into how parents might manage other siblings feelings after their baby dies.If you would like to know more about this topic and our work, please email info@heldinourhearts.org.uk

This podcast's topic is about helping friends, family and colleagues support bereaved parents. Angie Alexander chats to three of our befriending team Vikki Anderson, Katy Skipworth and Tracy Watt, who share their own insights about what they found comforting after the loss of their precious little ones and how sometimes it can just be the simplest thing that give so much comfort –a hug, a cup of tea, a text on an anniversary. The conversation is wide ranging covering issues like the taboo around baby loss, finding the right words, wanting to fix things for bereaved parents and worry about causing further upset. Vikki, Katy and Tracy spoke about different ways that people can show their support and how much of a difference it can make to reduce the overwhelming feelings of isolation and loneliness. We hope that the podcast gives you more understanding and insight into how parents can feel after their baby has died and ways in which you can show your support. If you would like to know more about this topic and our work, please email info@heldinourhearts.org.uk

This podcast's topic is about subsequent pregnancy after loss, which we know can be one of the most conflicting times for bereaved families to face, filled with complex and often contradictory emotions. Angie Alexander chats to two of our befriending team Heather Taylor and Gemma Brady, who share their own personal reflections of pregnancy after the loss of their precious daughters Eilidh and Tilly. They also share practical advice and guidance that helped themselves and also through the support they have offered to families over the years who have faced a subsequent pregnancy after a loss.  We hope that the podcast can help you if you are thinking about a subsequent pregnancy or are pregnant again, giving some reassurance and comfort that you are not alone in how you are feeling. If you would like to know more about the support we offer for families who are pregnant again after loss, please email info@heldinourhearts.org.uk

Welcome to our fifth podcast where Nicola our CEO talks to Tina Brehmmer and Tracy Watt about how it feels to be bereaved on Mother’s Day.  Tina faced her first Mother’s Day last year without a living child after her son Angus sadly died in 2019 and Tracy shares about living with the loss of her son Lewis.  We discuss how we remember all our babies on this day. We hope it may help other bereaved parents and gives an insight into the many ways loss affects us.For more information on how Held In Our Hearts can support you or a loved one, please visit - Held In Our Hearts - Providing baby loss counselling and support

Join us for our fourth podcast where our host Nicola Welsh talks to Corrienne McCulloch, Tracy Watt and Margaret Follon.   They are all bereaved mums with very different experiences of loss from 2 years, 39 years and 30 years ago.  We discuss how our own personal grief has changed over time but also how the support being offered to families has also changed.   We talk about ways in which we cope at Christmas and remember our little ones throughout the year.   Some have set traditions which help them and others wait and see how they feel nearer the time or on the day.  We all grieve and remember differently and it was nice to give ourselves permission to do what feels right at the time without pressure or judgement.  We hope this episode helps bereaved parents feel less alone at Christmas and may help them reflect on ways they might remember.  It might also be useful for anyone supporting someone they know who has lost a baby and don't know what to do or say at Christmas.   For more information on how Held In Our Hearts can support you or a loved one, please visit https://heldinourhearts.org.uk

Join us for our third podcast where our host Nicola Welsh talks to Grant Christie, Mikey McLeod and Pete Easterbrook.   They are all fathers who have all experienced the loss of a baby and have trained as male befrienders with Held In Our Hearts.  We discuss how it feels to be a bereaved dad and the need to support their partner and family whilst also finding their own voice and how they navigated their way through their own journey of grief and loss with the support and kindness of Held In Our Hearts.   We talk about what it is like for both parents to be grieving at the same time and society's reluctance to ask men 'how are you?' and why it is hard for men to really tell others how they are truly feeling after their baby dies.    We share support available for men within the charity and how this has evolved over the years and talk about the Whatsapp support group , the football team and how to reach out for support.   For more information on how Held In Our Hearts can support you or a loved one, please visit https://heldinourhearts.org.uk

Join our second episode host Nicola Welsh as she chats to Rebecca Rooney, who talks about her precious daughter Charlotte and how she made the first steps to return to work at The NatWest Group. Rebecca also discusses those first difficult days returning after her loss and what steps her manager put in place to support her. In this episode we also talk about how managers and work colleagues can support a member of the team return to work after a loss and how important this is to the bereaved parent.  For more information and support on how Held In Our Hearts can support you or a loved one, please visit https://heldinourhearts.org.uk

The first episode is here! Join episode host Angie Alexander as she chats to Nicola Welsh, Chief Executive of Held In Our Hearts, who shares about her own personal journey as a bereaved parent and her involvement with the charity initially as a volunteer and now as the CEO. In this episode we also talk about Baby Loss Awareness Week and the importance of that movement in breaking down barriers and encouraging conversation about baby loss to reduce the isolation families feel.For more information and support on how Held In Our Hearts can support you or a loved one, please visit https://heldinourhearts.org.uk