Baby loss is one of the most painful and silenced experiences a parent can face. In this episode of The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast, Dr Marianne Trent is joined by Clinical Psychologist Dr Kara Davey to explore why baby loss awareness matters, what bereaved parents really need, and how we can offer support with compassion rather than silence.

Drawing on both professional expertise and her own lived experience, Dr Kara shares insights into the grief, isolation, and lifelong impact of losing a baby. We discuss how friends, colleagues, and health professionals can respond in ways that validate and comfort rather than avoid, and why including a baby’s name or memory can make such a difference.

Whether you are supporting clients, working in perinatal services, or want to feel more confident supporting a friend or colleague, this conversation brings understanding, humanity, and hope. #BabyLossAwareness

#PregnancyLossSupport

#GriefSupport

⏱️ Highlights & Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Introduction & trigger warning
• 01:04 – Why baby loss awareness matters
• 02:10 – The silence and isolation many parents experience
• 04:19 – What colleagues, friends, and employers often get wrong
• 06:39 – Staying human: why small messages of care mean so much
• 08:56 – The importance of advocating for your own needs after loss
• 10:41 – Including babies’ names in cards and continuing bonds
• 13:46 – Long-term grief: hearing stories even decades later
• 17:47 – First practical steps after a baby loss
• 20:30 – Caring for your body when you come home without your baby
• 22:30 – The role of bereavement midwives and memory-making
• 24:17 – Supporting parents in future pregnancies after loss
• 27:11 – “Rainbow babies”: hope and complexity of pregnancy after loss
• 30:24 – The loss of innocence and identity shifts after bereavement
• 33:43 – Rebuilding identity: the Japanese art of kintsugi as a metaphor
• 35:11 – Relationship impacts and relational trauma after baby loss
• 37:13 – Dr Kara’s children’s book There’s a Rainbow Baby in My Mummy’s Tummy
• 39:58 – Free monthly baby loss support groups and resources

Resources Mentioned:

1. There's a Rainbow Baby in my Mummy's Tummy: https://amzn.to/4gMxtKv
2. Kara's Free Resources: https://www.karaclinicalpsychologistinsussex.co.uk/resources/
3. The Grief Collective: https://amzn.to/4gPqnoy

Links:

🫶 To support me by donating to help cover my costs for the free resources I provide click here: https://the-aspiring-psychologist.captivate.fm/support

📚 To check out The Clinical Psychologist Collective Book: https://amzn.to/3jOplx0

📖 To check out The Aspiring Psychologist Collective Book: https://amzn.to/3CP2N97

💡 To check out or join the aspiring psychologist membership for just £30 per month head to: https://www.goodthinkingpsychology.co.uk/membership-interested

🖥️ Check out my brand new short courses for aspiring psychologists and mental health professionals here: https://www.goodthinkingpsychology.co.uk/short-courses

✍️ Get your Supervision Shaping Tool now: https://www.goodthinkingpsychology.co.uk/supervision

📱Connect socially with Marianne and check out ways to work with her, including the Aspiring Psychologist Book, Clinical Psychologist book and The Aspiring Psychologist Membership on her Link tree: https://linktr.ee/drmariannetrent

💬 To join my free Facebook group and discuss your thoughts on this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/aspiringpsychologistcommunity

Like, Comment, Subscribe & get involved:

If you enjoy the podcast, please do subscribe and rate and review episodes. If you'd like to learn how to record and submit your own audio testimonial to be included in future shows head to: https://www.goodthinkingpsychology.co.uk/podcast and click the blue request info button at the top of the page.

Hashtags:

#BabyLossAwareness #PregnancyLossSupport #GriefSupport

Mentioned in this episode:

Grab your ticket to the Psychologists in Private Practice Social & Networking Event

On Saturday the 6th of Dec 2025 Dr Claire Plumbly and I are hosting another brilliant Psychologists in private Practice Social & Networking event.
To learn more and grab your ticket head to: https://gtps.kartra.com/page/Social-Dec-2025