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Ocean offers support for those experiencing moderate severe mental health difficulties which have arisen from;

Pregnancy loss

Neonatal death (up to 28 days after birth)

Birth trauma (which is not suitable for any other intervention)

Severe fear of childbirth due to previous loss or trauma (secondary tokophobia)

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What does ‘growing around grief’ mean?

Growing around grief is a model created by grief counsellor Lois Tonkin. Tonkin came up with the model after speaking to a client about the death of their child. The woman told Tonkin that at first grief filled every part of her life. She drew a picture with a circle to represent her life and shading to indicate her grief. It was all consuming.

She had thought that as time went by the grief would shrink and become a much smaller part of her life. But what happened was different. The grief stayed just as big, but her life grew around it. There were times where she felt the grief as intensely as when her child first died. But there were other times where she felt she lived her life in the space outside the circle.

Why is the idea of  ‘growing around grief’ helpful?

This view of grief does not tell someone that their grief will go away in time. You will never be ‘over it’. It acknowledges that there will be some days where you feel grief as strongly as you did when the person first died. But there will also be days when you are able to move on with other parts of your life. Sometimes people feel guilty about this, as if it is disloyal to the person who has died.

The ‘growing around grief’ model shows how we can still grieve the loss of our loved one while carrying on with our own lives. It shows that we can grow a new life which includes the loss.

Courtesy of Cruse https://www.cruse.org.uk/understanding-grief/effects-of-grief/growing-around-grief/

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We're often told there's a set timeline for grief. The growing around grief model challenges this idea.

What does 'growing around grief' mean?

Growing around grief is a model created by grief counsellor Lois Tonkin. Tonkin came up with the model after speaking to a client about the death of their child. The woman told Tonkin that at first grief filled every part of her life. She drew a picture with a circle to represent her life and shading to indicate her grief. It was all consuming.

She had thought that as time went by the grief would shrink and become a much smaller part of her life. But what happened was different. The grief stayed just as big, but her life grew around it. There were times where she felt the grief as intensely as when her child first died. But there were other times where she felt she lived her life in the space outside the circle.

Why is the idea of 'growing around grief' helpful?

This view of grief does not tell someone that their grief will go away in time. You will never be 'over it'. It acknowledges that there will be some days where you feel grief as strongly as you did when the person first died. But there will also be days when you are able to move on with other parts of your life. Sometimes people feel guilty about this, as if it is disloyal to the person who has died.

The 'growing around grief' model shows how we can still grieve the loss of our loved one while carrying on with our own lives. It shows that we can grow a new life which includes the loss. If you're finding grief overwhelming, we're here to help.

We're here to support you while you're grieving. Find out the ways we can help.

About Cruse

We help people through one of the most painful times in life - with bereavement support, information and campaigning.

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Growing around grief | Cruse Bereavement Support

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What does it mean to grow around your grief? And how is this a helpful way of looking at the grieving process?

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Q: What causes it?

A: It could be one or more of the following;

Previous loss in pregnancy

Previous stillbirth

Previous traumatic birth

Inadequate pain relief during previous birth.

Q: How might it make you feel?

A: Any one or more of the following;

Can’t stop thinking about my previous loss or trauma experience

Frequent bad dreams or nightmares about it

Extreme anxiety and fear when thinking about this pregnancy or birth

Not wanting to think, talk or prepare for this pregnancy or birth

Panic.

Q: Isn’t anxiety about birth normal?

A: To some extent, yes, it is. However, if you have had a difficult birth before or lost a pregnancy or baby, your fear may be extreme. It may make it very difficult to think about this next birth. This is called secondary tokophobia.

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1) Assessment

Once your referral is accepted, you’ll be offered an appointment with a Wellbeing Midwife

This is a chance to talk about:

Your current worries or distress in pregnancy

Your fertility and maternity history

Any past trauma or loss

Previous mental health experiences and support

If this service isn’t the best fit, we’ll help you explore the next steps

2) Enhanced Midwifery Care

A personalised support plan based on your needs and goals

You may be offered:

Appointments at key stages of pregnancy

Support in appointments (e.g. with Obstetricians)

Help to advocate for yourself and your baby

Information to support your choices

Links to other maternity services

Visits to delivery suites or theatres

Birth preparation:

Create a trauma-informed birth plan together

Share your plan with your care team

Extra support options:

Hypnobirthing (small online group via Teams, 4 sessions)

G-TEP group (trauma support based on EMDR)

Helps reduce distress and re-experiencing symptoms

A Psychologist will contact you if this is suitable

3) Postnatal Care

Follow-up support after your baby is born

A small number of appointments based on your needs

Support available for up to 8 weeks after birth

May involve working with your Health Visitor or Perinatal care.

After this, your care will transition to your Health Visitor and GP

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If you think you, or someone you know, may be experiencing primary tokophobia (severe fear of childbirth in the absence of a previous pregnancy or birth experience) then contact your local Talking Therapies service to see if they can provide an assessment or support.

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"I was broken after the birth of my son. My journey to healing started after finding the BTA. It was the first time I felt hope that I would get better, and that I wasn't alone."

- BTA Facebook group member, 2023

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BTA is the only charity in the UK solely dedicated to supporting women and families who have experienced traumatic birth. We work to support parents and families, improve parents' experience of birth, and engage with health professionals and research.

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Acute grief: this can be intense and preoccupying, with dominant feelings of yearning and sorrow. It can include physical symptoms of anxiety, such as heart palpitations or panic. Cognitive confusion and memory difficulties are common. There is a sense of disconnection from others and ongoing life. It is disruptive and although it might come and go, it can last for weeks or months.

Integrated grief: this is quieter, adaptive form of grief. Whilst strong feelings of loss and sadness may surface in response to reminders e.g. anniversaries, on the whole grief is reshaped to fit into our lives. There is comprehension of the reality of the death and thoughts about this are accessible but not preoccupying. There is a reconnection with others and feelings of competence and wellbeing, where happiness seems possible.

Prolonged grief: also sometime called complex grief, is a prolonged period of at least a year in which feelings of acute grief remain dominant. Feelings of yearning, sorrow and disbelief remain dominant and may be complicated by secondary effects of anger, avoidance of reminders, depression and difficulties in relationships.

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1) Assessment

Appointment with a Psychological Practitioner after your referral is accepted

A space to explore:

Your current distress related to your loss

Fertility and maternity history

Past trauma or loss experiences

Previous mental health and support

If this isn’t the right service, we’ll guide you to next steps

2) Low Intensity Treatment

First stage of support (based on NICE guidance)

What to expect:

Small online group (around 6 people)

4–6 sessions

Focus on how your experience of loss is affecting you now

In the group:

No expectation to talk about your loss

Learn about common emotional responses after pregnancy or baby loss

Develop practical, evidence-based coping strategies

Additional notes:

Individual sessions may be offered in exceptional cases

Attending all sessions and practising skills between sessions will help you get the most from this stage

3) Review of Needs

Follow-up with a Psychological Practitioner

Reflect on:

How helpful and accessible the group was

What support you may need next

May include further treatment or referral to other services

4) High Intensity Treatment

More in-depth, personalised support

1:1 sessions with a Psychological Practitioner

Tailored to your needs and goals

Developed together with your Psychologist

What to expect:

Around 16–24 sessions

Choice of in-person or online (Teams)

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A specialist midwife who supports people through the loss of a baby or traumatic birth, as part of a wider mental health team that helps them recover emotionally and physically.

bereavement midwife is a trained midwife who focuses specifically on supporting families when a baby dies during pregnancy, birth, or shortly after. They:

Provide emotional support and counselling

Help parents understand what’s happening medically

Guide them through decisions (e.g. memory-making, funerals, follow-up care)

Offer ongoing support after discharge

They’re often a consistent point of contact during a very difficult time

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BEDFORDSHIRE & LUTON SERVICES CHUMS currently delivers nine services across Luton & Bedfordshire, although not all are available in both areas. Supporting children and young people is at the heart of everything we do, and we are passionate about supporting as many children and young people as we can.

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The Grove Pregnancy Advice Centre serving Bedford and mid, north and south Bedfordshire | The Grove Pregnancy Advice Centre serving Bedford and mid, north and south Bedfordshire

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The Grove offers free & confidential help to those struggling with unexpected pregnancy, baby loss & post abortion issues. We also provide practical help with baby equipment & clothes (up to 1 year of age) for those in financial difficulties.

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Welcome to the Maternal Mental Health Service.

If you’re reading this, you may have been through birth trauma, pregnancy loss, or baby loss. We’re very sorry that you’ve experienced something so difficult, and we want you to know that you’re not alone and that support is available.

We are a small team of psychological therapists and specialist midwives who offer compassionate, trauma-informed support for women and birthing people affected by loss or trauma, at any point in their fertility or maternity journey.

We’re also connected with other local support services and can gently help you find further support for you and your partner, if and when that feels right.

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Team Administrator: provides administrative support for the team, including opening referrals and arranging initial assessment appointments. You may be contacted by our administrator via the telephone following a referral to set up an initial assessment with our team.

Emotional Wellbeing Midwives: provide individualised support to women and birthing people who are experiencing secondary tokophobia (severe fear of pregnancy/birth following previous experience of birth trauma or baby loss), on top of existing midwifery/obstetric care. This may include support with navigating the maternity system, answering concerns about pregnancy/labour/birth and/or trauma-informed birth planning.

Psychologists: we have qualified psychologists/psychological therapists and an assistant psychologist within OCEAN who provide psychologically-informed interventions for women and birthing people who are accessing OCEAN.

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Please note that the Bedfordshire & Luton OCEAN service does not have a self referral form and you will need to contact the team via their email or phone number.

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We (Wes and Michael) are on a mission to help raise awareness of Same-Sex Parenting and help normalise our own modern family, as we hopefully help shine the spotlight, positively on families like ours, with either two mommies or two daddies.

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Grief can be overwhelming - you don’t have to deal with it alone. Cruse Bereavement Support is here. Call our helpline or chat online.

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WE NEED YOUR HELP

Our team is working tirelessly to increase awareness of the disparities in maternal mortality rates for black women in the U.K.

With your support Five X More has an ambitious and exciting plan to play a leading role in eradicating the statistics for good.

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Our team is working tirelessly to increase awareness of the disparities in maternal mortality rates for black women in the U.K. With your support Five X More has an ambitious and exciting plan to play a leading role in eradicating the statistics for good.

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To hear about upcoming online training events or to book tailored training contact us here. Transparent Change provides incredible trans inclusion training to professionals Why we do what we do The world is a better place when we’re all understood and accepted. More and more people are finding language and community to better understand themselves

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We are the LGBT Mummies organisation.

Our sole purpose is to support LGBT+ women & people globally on the path to motherhood or parenthood.
We provide guidance on the different family creation pathways through our website, social channels & support groups, whilst providing access to our global community to meet other like-minded families.

From providing guidance on fertility clinics & sperm banks, resources, connecting you to supporting organisations, brands, sharing studies, our private support groups, to celebrating & sharing your lived experiences & our annual events where families come together.

Whether you are thinking of starting a family or have children already
by home insemination, fertility treatment, surrogacy, adoption, fostering. Whether you're a single parent, couple,
co-parent, poly family or a stepparent, all families are welcome.

Our mission is to acquire true equity & equality for LGBT+ families to that of our heterosexual counterparts.

We passionately campaign for LGBT+ family equality & positive policy change. We do this through our ongoing recommendations, training & conversations with the Government, NHS, corporate & charitable organisations, to improve support for LGBT+ families across healthcare, law & society.

Through our educational arm, PROUD FOUNDATIONS, we provide education & training, consultancy services, speakers & project work to educate & enable organisations to better support our community by improving policies, guidelines & resources.

We work tirelessly to inspire people worldwide on their journey, whilst working to 'usualize' & celebrate our families in society, in turn creating a more inclusive future for our children.

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Support same sex families & LGBT women & people looking to start a family & providing a community space for lesbians, bisexuals, trans & non binary women & people

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We accept self-referrals and professional referrals.

Either call us on 01234 290120 or email us with the form completed or questions around it at elft.bedlutonocean@nhs.net

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Individual Assessments:

We meet with you to understand your current challenges and identify what kind of psychological or specialist midwifery support might help.

Individual Formulations:

This is a detailed look at your personal experiences and difficulties. It helps us understand the reasons behind what you're going through and guides us in choosing the best way to support you. It’s more of a shared story than a diagnosis.

Low-Intensity Psychological Interventions:

These are brief, focused sessions to offer you tools and strategies, to understand common difficulties such as trauma symptoms. They are usually offered as a course alongside other clients of Ocean, but can be offered individually if needed.

Evidence-Based Psychological Therapies:

This includes a variety of therapies like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing (EMDR), Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), or Prolonged Grief Disorder Treatment.  All are designed to meet your individual needs.

Support for Partners:

Some of the work we do may involve your partner as part of the overall support. We can also give information about services where partners can seek their own support, if needed.

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We are here to explore other support options that meet your current needs.

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We are here to explore other support options that meet your current needs.

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Following your initial assessment with OCEAN, if we do not feel our support would best meet your needs we will discuss the reasons for this with you and consider the alternative options that may be helpful for you.

Where possible, we will support with a “warm handover” to other services which can include a discussion with different services, completing a professional referral and sharing your assessment information (with your consent) to minimise the need to repeat yourself again and again.

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We are keen to ensure that women and birthing people access the right support at the right time for them, and sometimes this may mean that OCEAN is not the best team to meet your needs or it may be that different support is recommended in the first instance.

This can be for a range of different reasons, including:

We do not think that the type of treatment we offer would help to address your current needs.

o  For example, trauma therapy addresses symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder; grief therapy for prolonged/complicated grief presentations

o   You may be looking for a different type of support e.g. support with raising a complaint, peer-based/befriending support or ad hoc support

Now may not be the right time to be accessing further support.

o   Sometimes there can be a lot going on that may make it difficult to access planned care, for example due to multiple fertility/antenatal appointments, or there may be significant stressors occurring elsewhere in someone’s life, that make it difficult to commit to regular appointments needed as part of your planned care

o   The nature of therapy may not feel suitable at this time e.g. it requires regular commitment including time to practice information outside of sessions, it can increase distress and symptoms in the short-term

o   You are currently accessing psychological therapy elsewhere (within the NHS or privately) or you have very recently finished accessing therapy elsewhere

It may be too soon for us to know whether psychological therapy would be helpful for you at this time.

o   It is common to experience a range of difficulties following a traumatic event, and these difficulties naturally resolve for the majority of people within 4-6 weeks without intervention

o   Grief is a universal and adaptive response following a loss, and we are not here to pathologise or interrupt the natural grieving process particularly within the first year after a loss

Your needs may be better supported by other existing services.

o   In accordance with NICE guidance, we follow a ‘stepped-care approach’ and recommend the least intensive/restrictive treatment option in the first instance, and it may be that existing services may be more beneficial for you in the first instance

o   You may be experiencing factors that require support that we are not able to provide within OCEAN, for example, requiring the input of different professionals (such as psychiatry), support with mental health needs outside of OCEAN’s remit, or there is significant/acute risk.

Following your initial assessment with OCEAN, if we do not feel our support would best meet your needs we will discuss the reasons for this with you and consider the alternative options that may be helpful for you.

Where possible, we will support with a “warm handover” to other services which can include a discussion with different services, completing a professional referral and sharing your assessment information (with your consent) to minimise the need to repeat yourself again and again.

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Trauma symptoms

Re-experiencing: sudden and intense memories, images, or sensory experiences such as smells or body sensations. These are accompanied by strong emotions and can feel like you are back in the moment, and have a 'here and now' quality to them. Dreams and nightmares may also have the same quality. They can be difficult to distract or disengage from. Re-experiencing is different from remembering or rumination, which may bring up difficult emotions but more clearly feels like thinking about something which happened in the past.

Arousal: feeling jumpy or easily startled, or a sense of dread and that something bad may happen. This can include general feelings of anxiety, overwhelm or panic.

Avoidance: of reminders of the trauma. This might be places, conversations, objects, colours, or smells. It might lead to taking yourself away from activities, relationships, television, radio or social media. Avoidance can also be of memories and feelings that are associated with your trauma, and in more extreme forms may be disconnecting or dissociating from these things, and can lead to a confusion about whether your memories are reliable or if your trauma is real.

These symptoms are a natural, human response to experiencing something unexpected and overwhelming, where you or others around you felt unsafe. If you have responses from any of the categories above within the first 4-6 weeks following a birth trauma or traumatic loss, then please try not to worry. For many people, these symptoms will settle. Please look at the information in our self-help section about what you can do to support yourself or a loved one during this time.

PTSD is diagnosed where there are symptoms from each of these three areas that are having a prolonged and disruptive impact on wellbeing. If symptoms are not settling, or getting worse, and it has been at least 4-6 weeks since your birth or loss, then please get in touch with us to see if we can help.

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Established in 2012, and officially becoming a charity in 2013, the Mariposa Trust has grown to become a forerunner in support, services and as campaigner for change in the UK and globally. In 2014 the charity launched 'Mariposa International', a 501(c)3 not-for-profit in the US.
The aims of the Mariposa Trust remain as follows:

Creating global services of remembrance that allow people to grieve in a supportive environment;

Creating a comprehensive support structure, allowing people to access the support they need;

Improving the care and support of anyone going through loss;

Changing the taboo nature of baby loss, allowing for more open discussion, acceptance and support.

The Mariposa Trust

The Mariposa Trust has grown in the depth and breadth of its work, and now has six main divisions. The primary division is Saying Goodbye, which provides a global portfolio of support, as well as services of remembrance at Cathedrals around the world. In addition, there are five further support divisions: GrowingYou, Holding Hope, Waiting for You, Love in Every Tear and So Cherished.

The Trust is a Charity (1151108) and Company limited by Guarantee (8241785). It oversees and coordinates all UK and International operations and initiatives.

Saying Goodbye

Saying Goodbye is the primary division of the Mariposa Trust and provides support for anyone who is affected by baby loss, at any stage of pregnancy, at birth or in infancy, whether the loss be recent or historic. In addition, Saying Goodbye also provides support for people who are grieving never having children, and is at the forefront of campaigning for change, as a stakeholder with the Department of Health.

In addition to supporting tens of thousands of people each week, it runs the 'Saying Goodbye' services of remembrance at Cathedrals, Minsters and Abbey's globally.

The Charity Divisions

The charity has five further divisions,

GrowingYou offers support to anyone who is pregnant or considering pregnancy following loss.

Holding Hope provides support for people through are considering or going through fertility treatment.

Waiting for You provides support for people journeying through adoption.

Love in Every Tear supports people supporting others through loss.

So Cherished supports families who have received a terminal or life altering diagnosis over over their child.

Global... Baby loss knows no bounds, and can affect anyone, anywhere!

Baby loss is a global issue with around 30 million miscarriages each year, 2.6 million still births and 5.495 million neo-natal and early years losses. The Mariposa Trust is leading the way in providing better support for anyone going through loss, and in increasing awareness of the size and scale of the issue.

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The Mariposa Trust provides services and support for people who have lost children at any stage of pregnancy, at birth, or in infancy, be it last week or 60-years ago.

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The Mariposa Trust - Support for those who have lost children during pregnancy, at birth, or in infancy.

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1) Assessment

Appointment with a Psychological Practitioner after your referral is accepted

A space to explore:

Your current distress linked to your birth experience

Fertility and maternity history

Past trauma or loss

Previous mental health and support

If this isn’t the right service, we’ll support you with next steps

2) Low Intensity Treatment

First stage of support (based on NICE guidance)

What to expect:

Small online group (around 6 people)

4–6 sessions

Focus on how past trauma affects you now

In the group:

No pressure to share your trauma story

Learn about common emotional responses after birth trauma

Develop practical, evidence-based coping strategies

Additional notes:

Individual sessions may be offered in exceptional cases

Attending all sessions and practising skills between sessions will help you get the most from this stage

3) Review of Needs

Follow-up with a Psychological Practitioner

Reflect on:

How helpful and accessible the group was

What support you may need next

May include further treatment or referral to other services

4) High Intensity Treatment

More in-depth, personalised support

1:1 sessions with a Psychological Practitioner

Tailored to your needs and goals

Developed together with your Psychologist

What to expect:

Around 16–24 sessions

Choice of in-person or online (Teams)pathway;

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"I was broken after the birth of my son. My journey to healing started after finding the BTA. It was the first time I felt hope that I would get better, and that I wasn't alone."

- BTA Facebook group member, 2023

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BTA is the only charity in the UK solely dedicated to supporting women and families who have experienced traumatic birth. We work to support parents and families, improve parents' experience of birth, and engage with health professionals and research.

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The Worst Girl Gang Ever - Support for Miscarriage + Baby Loss

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Welcome to The Worst Girl Gang Ever – a support platform and podcast for miscarriage and baby loss. Founded by Bex and Laura, best selling authors and award winning podcast hosts, TWGGE offers a community to support you through the storm of baby loss and onwards in your journey.

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The EPT1000 Challenge

Sign up to our EPT1000 Challenge for 2024! Participate in the EPT1000 Challenge local to your home or within your own home, at your pace. Covering 1000 miles or 100 km (your choice!) over the year, you can count climbing the stairs, joining in fitness videos online, and even gardening in totting up your distance. You can extend your timeframe or pause the Challenge too. Many previous Challengers express how The EPT1000 Challenge provides much-needed focus and time to reflect, helping their emotional and physical recovery while raising awareness and funds.
Sign up to The EPT1000 Challenge

Here for anyone who needs us

We're so sorry that you are going through a challenging time. It's natural to feel lost when dealing with an ectopic pregnancy. We hope to ease that slightly. Medical advice from your healthcare professionals is important, and so is emotional support.

No matter your circumstances, we're here for you.

Supporting family

You might have other children. You might find it challenging to talk to your parents about what you are going through. It could be that your child has experienced an ectopic pregnancy. We can help you find the words you may be looking for.
Read our guidance for families

Do you or someone you know have symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy?

There are a few key symptoms of ectopic pregnancy which can be similar to other conditions - like miscarriage, urinary infection, or upset stomach. If you have a missed period and symptoms such as abdominal pain or unusual vaginal bleeding, it is important to get checked out. It is a good idea to do a pregnancy test. Symptoms may be nothing to worry about and you may have a "normal" pregnancy - but it is worth getting medical attention to rule out an ectopic pregnancy to be on the safe side.

Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy

What is an ectopic pregnancy?

An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilised egg implants outside the cavity ("space") of the uterus (womb). The most common place for an ectopic pregnancy is in a Fallopian tube (also occasionally called a tubal pregnancy) but there are many other sites where an ectopic pregnancy can be located, such as the ovary, cervix, abdomen, or caesarean scar. It is, sadly, not possible to move an ectopic pregnancy into the uterus.

Any woman or person who is sexually active or having fertility treatment (like IVF) is at risk of an ectopic pregnancy. There are some situations which may make a woman or person higher risk but there is often no way of knowing for sure why an ectopic pregnancy has happened in many cases.

If an ectopic pregnancy is suspected, doctors will conduct tests to confirm or rule it out. These tests include a scan called a transvaginal ultrasound scan and sometimes checking hormone levels.
Find out more about ectopic pregnancies

What are the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy?

Although there could be another explanation, if vaginal bleeding occurs and you have had a positive pregnancy test, it's really important that you get it checked out. Some bleeding in early pregnancy can occur in a normal pregnancy - but still seek medical advice straight away.

Vaginal bleeding or pains in the abdomen should be investigated urgently by a medical professional as they could be signs of an ectopic pregnancy. If not diagnosed and treated quickly, it may be a life-threatening situation because of a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. So don't wait.

These signs don't mean an ectopic pregnancy is the only outcome; it's just better to be safe. Always seek medical advice when experiencing abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding in any trimester of pregnancy. It is ok to trust your instincts.
Read about how an ectopic pregnancy is diagnosed

How is an ectopic pregnancy treated?

After diagnosis by a doctor, there are three main treatment options:

- expectant management (watchful waiting to see if the pregnancy resolves on its own);

- medical management with a drug called methotrexate;

- surgery (usually a laparoscopy or keyhole surgery but sometimes a laparotomy or open surgery).

The treatment options available will depend on clinical factors such as your pregnancy hormone level (called human chorionic gonadotropin or hCG) and the extent of pain or bleeding, so follow guidance from your healthcare professional.
More about the different treatment options

We're here to help

Support after an ectopic pregnancy

From forums to virtual support groups, we have many ways to help you. You don't have to navigate this on your own.

Education

We work hard to increase awareness about symptoms of ectopic pregnancy, treatment options, and recovery.

Research

At The EPT, we pride ourselves in our contribution to ectopic pregnancy research and the medical community.

About The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust

The EPT provides information about the causes, symptoms and treatment of ectopic pregnancy, as well as much-needed support to families affected by ectopic pregnancy and the healthcare professionals who care for them.
Find out more about The EPT

Giving support, giving guidance, giving comfort - give what you can, too.

Over the last year, we've seen a drop in donations. Help us continue driving awareness, education and support to those through diagnosis, treatment and recovery - donate to our cause now. Every penny makes a real difference!

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Information and support for anyone affected by ectopic pregnancy and other early pregnancy complications, and the healthcare professionals who care for them.

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https://www.tommys.org/search?keys=tokophobia

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https://pandasfoundation.org.uk/

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Resources

Made for Mums

It's very common for new mums to feel overwhelmed, low and even a bit weepy in the first couple of weeks after birth. So common, in fact, that there's actually a name for it, the baby blues. And it's not surprising: You're knackered, you're sore, you're bleeding (whether you had a caesarean or not) and, instead of being able to sleep it all off, you're faced with the 24-hour responsibility of caring for a whole new - and right now very needy - person. While the weepiness and blues should be quite short-lived, it may take a while longer before you can ditch the overwhelmed bit.
Find out more

Parents in Mind

Local volunteers to support women experiencing emotional health difficulties in pregnancy.

Postnatal mental health - Talking about mental health

Sara, Holly and Kate talk about their experience of mental health problems after pregnancy and becoming mothers.

ACAS

Checking your pregnancy and maternity rights

Pregnancy Sickness Support

Our national support network is for sufferers of NVP and HG and their carers, which is growing and developing constantly and making a huge difference to women all around the country. Our leaflets and website also provide a valuable resource for those suffering. We are also working hard to raise awareness about Nausea and Vomiting in pregnancy and Hyperemesis Gravidarum with the public, the media and Health Care Professionals (HCP's) and are involved in ongoing research into the cause and treatment of NVP and HG and the psychological impact for sufferers and their families.

Guardian Society

Useful articles about perinatal health from the Guardian newspaper 2020-21

MadeForMums

At MadeForMums, we've got the best, and most honest, advice - from experts and from parents who've been there - on pregnancy, birth, babies, toddlers, and school-age children.

Parents in MIND, 1st 1000 Days New Parent Support

Our mission is to support parents through the first 1,000 days, to have the best possible experience of pregnancy, birth and early parenthood.

We do this through three interconnected aims:

Sharing knowledge - informing parents' decisions

Creating networks - forging vital friendships

Harnessing voices - changing public policy and attitudes for good.

Mind

Website with helpful and friendly information that explains postnatal depression and other perinatal mental health problems, including possible causes, treatments and support options. Also has information for friends and family, including support and advice for partners.

Action on Postpartum Psychosis

Peer led organisation with lots of helpful info on perinatal mental health illnesses

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Bedfordshire and Luton | East London NHS Foundation Trust

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It's very common for new mums to feel overwhelmed, low and even a bit weepy in the first couple of weeks after birth. So common, in fact, that there's actually a name for it, the baby blues.

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What is the Perinatal Mental Health Team?

They provide specialist support and treatment for people with moderate to severe mental health difficulties during pregnancy or within the first 18mths after having a baby (called the ‘perinatal period’).

•They offer advice on medication to people with a history of severe mental illness who are considering trying to conceive

•They will provide an assessment of your needs and work with you to develop a plan of care during your pregnancy or to support you during the postnatal period. This plan may involve support from one or more of the different types of clinicians in the team, depending on your needs.

•They are a multi-disciplinary team, consisting of nurses, Occupational Therapists, Psychological therapists, nursery nurses, psychiatrists and social workers.

•They work closely with the Ocean service, and some people may receive support from both teams, depending on their needs.

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We work with:

people who are pregnant and experiencing a fear of pregnancy or giving birth as a result of a previous pregnancy or baby loss or trauma (secondary tokophobia)

people who have lost a pregnancy or a baby (up to 28 days after birth) and are experiencing prolonged or complex grief as a result of this experience

people who are childless not by choice

people who are experiencing trauma or PTSD as a result of their fertility journey, loss or birth experience.

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It's really common, following a trauma, to experience frightening dreams or nightmares. The content of these can replay or be similar to what happened during your traumatic experience and can really effect the amount and quality of your sleep. We think of dreams and nightmares as one of the re-experiencing symptoms following trauma, that happen at night (see section on Birth Trauma).

There is an evidence-based technique that can help to reduce the impact your dreams and nightmares have on you. It requires a bit of imagination but is very easy to understand and use. Look at the information below and click on the links to learn more and give it a go.

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We’re a UK charity committed to fighting abortion stigma. Whether you’ve accessed abortion services, are thinking about it, or work in abortion care, we’re here to support you. We make space for the conversations that make people feel heard, valued, and help them find the support they want and need. We run a volunteer-led confidential talkline to support anyone who wants to talk about abortion but doesn’t feel like they have anyone to talk to.

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After thirty years of service our very first National Director, Ruth Bender Atik is retiring and we are recruiting for a new CEO. Our next Chief Executive will have the full support of the trustees to develop the strategy that will take the Miscarriage Association through the next chapter of its journey, based on a [...]
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We are so thankful to everyone who contributes to Baby Loss Awareness Week. Sharing stories, raising funds and getting involved on social media - it all helps us to spread the word and raise awareness of the impact of miscarriage, ectopic and molar pregnancy. Crucially, you help us all create and maintain this special opportunity [...]
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The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has updated its guidance for doctors on caring for people with recurrent miscarriage. They have also published a patient information leaflet. What is new? There is a change in the definition of recurrent miscarriage more consideration of the occasions where someone might be offered tests after two [...]
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The Miscarriage Association:Pregnancy Loss Information & Support

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Learn about the Miscarriage Association, how to cope, and support those experiencing pregnancy loss. Access vital resources and information.

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Founded in 2012, we are a non-profit organisation serving the Muslim community by supporting bereaved women who have lost a loved one.