Thrive – Psychological Support for Birth Trauma and Loss

Thrive is an inclusive, multi-professional service, offering assessment and interventions to those experiencing moderate/ severe mental health difficulties as a result of experiences resulting in the perinatal context, such as birth trauma and/or loss.

Presentations may include (but are not limited to):

• Repeated unsuccessful IVF
• TSD following perinatal loss (including early miscarriage, unsuccessful recurrent miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death)
• PTSD following birth trauma
• Termination of pregnancy for any reason
• Parent infant separation at birth (this could be due to a number of reasons including safeguarding concerns or the illness of the parent or baby resulting in prolonged hospitalisation and separation etc.)
• Tokophobia (severe fear of childbirth)
• Support and signposting for partners

Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy and trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is provided by a clinical psychologist.

These are both forms of therapy that can be useful and effective for those who have experienced trauma.

Specialist midwives within the service will provide their clinical expertise and knowledge in relation to birth loss and trauma, and support for future pregnancies.

Additionally, a person working within the service with lived experience of birth loss or birth trauma is available to make contact with each person, to offer support and advice as required. This may include supporting someone at their assessment, sharing their experience of their recovery journey, or linking in with support groups.

Based on the need of each person, further advice, support and signposting can be offered, for example to reproductive health.