Held In Our Hearts: baby loss counselling and support Held In Our Hearts

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 Hearts
She 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.