Norfolk charity gives baby loss awareness training

TimeNorfolk, the pregnancy loss charity, are using their knowledge and experience to raise awareness of issues surrounding baby loss and sharing best practice to health and funeral care professionals.
 

Part of the work of TimeNorfolk is to raise awareness of issues surrounding baby loss to ensure bereaved parents get the best possible care. A training day for healthcare professionals and funeral directors was held this week at Greenacres, Colney Wood. This is the fourth year the charity has held the event, which was timed to be ahead of Baby Loss Awareness Week.

“We hear the experiences of women and men who have lost a baby, during pregnancy or in the early months of life and they each have their own stories and feelings. By reaching out to healthcare professionals and funeral directors we hope to shine a light on best practices so that bereaved parents can get the best possible care,” said Lesley Bradfield, director of TimeNorfolk.

The day consisted of talks from Lesley herself and Lindsey Nettleton, TimeNorfolk’s head of counselling as well as Anne Beckett-Allen from Rosedale Funeral Home, Anja George, Senior Anatomical Pathology Technologist, NNUH and Rev. Jane Nursey, Chaplain NNUH to give a rounded view of the people and processes involved with the loss of a baby.

“We were also very privileged to welcome two previous clients who shared their stories of baby loss with the room. It’s an emotive subject and to hear directly from bereaved parents creates the human connection and shows the impact every step can have. These women talk to raise awareness and we wish to thank them for their bravery in standing up and talking about their own experiences,” said Lesley.

Previous delegates from the training day described it as “a fabulous, inspiring & emotional day” as well as “very informative, I learnt so much to take forward.”

“As with previous years TimeNorfolk have offered this training day for free,” said Lesley, “We hope that our Loss of a Baby Awareness Day can be a part of making a difference to the care that bereaved parents receive around Norfolk. In these challenging times we are in, the public sector with their ever-growing waiting lists are relying more and more on the third and voluntary sector to ‘fill the gap’ and support people who are vulnerable with mental health needs.  Baby Loss can have a devasting effect on men, women and families”. 

TimeNorfolk provide free, confidential, face to face counselling and support to men and women who have experienced a pregnancy loss. They are there for women who are facing unplanned or complicated pregnancies or have any other pregnancy related issues.

If you feel you need support after any kind of pregnancy loss, please contact 03333 058552 or visit www.timenorfolk.org.uk for more information.

Pictured above: Lesley Bradfield speaking at the event