For Baby Loss Awareness Week this year, we wanted to spotlight Pregnancy Crisis Care, a Plymouth-based charity providing counselling and support to people experiencing pregnancy-related crisis or loss.
Supporting people through baby loss
Pregnancy Crisis Care supports people who have experienced different forms of pregnancy and baby loss, including termination, miscarriage, stillbirth, ectopic pregnancy and failed IVF. Its support also extends to those experiencing fertility difficulties and people who are pregnant again following a previous loss.
The charity recognises that grief following the loss of a baby can be complex and deeply personal and its wider vision is that “no one feels alone through a pregnancy related crisis or loss”.
Jane Frajbis, Founder of Pregnancy Crisis Care, says “At Pregnancy Crisis Care, we are privileged to walk alongside individuals and couples as they process their grief after baby loss. Always an emotional journey, we sensitively counsel them through their grief, helping them to remember and honour their little one who has sadly gone too soon”.
For some parents, being able to speak openly to somebody outside their immediate circle can be an important part of processing what has happened. The charity aims to provide a confidential and non-judgmental space in which people can explore their feelings and experiences at their own pace.
Families have found this safe space with Pregnancy Crisis Care, advising; “Thank you for being a lifebelt – you helped me keep my head above water when I felt like I was drowning. You shine lights in a dark place and the world so needs you” and “It’s been a slow process for me and took a long time for me to adjust and accept. I was given time and freedom to find my own journey and get to a point where I can continue alone. I feel like it has helped me find a new sense of self“.
Specialist counselling and support
Pregnancy Crisis Care’s practitioners come from a range of professional backgrounds. Most are qualified professional counsellors and members of the team have received specialist training in baby loss. The charity is also an organisational member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and adheres to its ethical framework.
Support can be provided on a one to one basis. At the initial appointment, you can be accompanied by a family member, friend or another professional if you would find that helpful. Recognising that face to face counselling will not be suitable or accessible for everyone, the charity can also provide counselling by telephone or Zoom.
For new clients, the charity currently offers seven counselling sessions free of charge. Longer term counselling is also available, with clients who continue beyond the initial sessions asked to consider a weekly donation. Importantly, the charity does not want cost to prevent anyone from accessing support and will discuss individual circumstances where a donation could present a difficulty.
Breaking the silence around baby loss
One of Pregnancy Crisis Care’s stated missions is to “break the silence around pregnancy related crisis, grief, and loss”.
Baby Loss Awareness Week provides an important opportunity to do exactly that. Talking openly about miscarriage, stillbirth and other forms of baby loss can help people who are grieving to know that they do not have to face their experience alone.
Charities such as Pregnancy Crisis Care play an important role in providing a safe place for those conversations and ensuring specialist emotional support is available within the local community.
How to contact Pregnancy Crisis Care
Pregnancy Crisis Care is based at Kinterbury House in central Plymouth and supports people in Plymouth and South East Cornwall. You can approach the charity directly or can be referred by another agency.
If you have experienced baby loss and would like to find out more about the charity or the support available, you can contact the Pregnancy Crisis Care team on 01752 246 788 or email; [email protected].
Supporting families through baby loss
At Enable Law, we understand the devastating impact that the loss of a baby can have on an individual and their wider family. During Baby Loss Awareness Week, we are proud to help raise awareness of organisations such as Pregnancy Crisis Care and the vital support they provide to people in our local communities.
