Families who have experienced baby loss in Middlesbrough can access “one of a kind” support with a team who truly understand.
Leo’s delivers the perinatal baby loss project through Middlesbrough Council’s Family Hubs service for families impacted by miscarriage, termination for medical reasons, neonatal loss or stillbirth.
Staff and therapists at the charity, who all have lived experience of pregnancy and baby loss, offer specialist mentoring, counselling and trauma therapy.
“There’s really nothing else like this service, and it’s so vital for the families we support,” said Lottie King, who founded the charity in 2018 after losing her son Leo.
“Everyone we work with has different needs, so everything is done at their pace. Grief is not a linear process and all of our team have that lived experience personally, so our families know that they are speaking to someone who does understand.
“We want to be there for people during what can be a traumatic journey - we deal with very high rates of PTSD and birth trauma.
“But sadly because their baby has died, our families are left without access to statutory perinatal mental health services or are forced to join long waiting lists – that’s why the services we offer are so vital.
“We see it as a privilege to be part of their journey, we begin essentially as strangers but we know how difficult it is to be in their position because we’ve been there ourselves.”
To mark Baby Loss Awareness Week, which runs until October 15, the team at Leo’s are running its ‘Ribbons on the Pier’ event at Saltburn, hiring a beach hut from 11am to 2pm every day with therapists offering mental health support to any loss family who needs it.
Leo’s has also recently donated 40 self-care packs for baby loss families to the bereavement suite at James Cook University Hospital, and last week launched a Baby Loss Journal, available from Amazon.
“Whether a loss was recent or happened decades ago, the pain and heaviness stays with families, so we hope that the journal can help them navigate life,” continued Lottie, 36, mum to Leo and his twin Oska, 9, Dax, 13 and daughter Molly, 2.
Deputy Mayor Philippa Storey, a trustee at Leo’s, said: “Baby and pregnancy loss is an absolutely tragic issue that impacts on many, many families in Middlesbrough and across Teesside.
“Leo’s offers an incredible service to families in our town and I’m delighted we can offer it through our Family Hubs initiative.
“There are so many support networks and organisations available and as we mark Baby Loss Awareness Week, I would urge families to seek out help if they’re struggling with their mental health.”
You can find out more about Leo’s on its website.
Other local organisations which offer support include Still Parents Teesside, which hold monthly support groups in Middlesbrough. Find out more by visiting the website.
The SANDS (Stillbirth & Neonatal Charity) also support families, and you can find out more by visiting the website.
Rainbows bereavement support offer services for siblings in some schools. You can find out more on its website.