A health worker appearing on the Channel 4 documentary series Belfast Midwives has spoken about grief and bereavement support after the latest episode sheds light on baby loss.
Belfast Midwives follows the team of midwives at the award-winning Royal Jubilee Maternity Service which delivers 5,000 babies every year.
Episode 3, aired on Tuesday 17, features Childbirth and Loss Support Midwife Gillian Campbell as she cares for couple Louise and Colin after the devastating loss of their twin daughters during pregnancy.
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Gillian has been a midwife for almost 19 years and joined the team working on supporting bereaved families for the past two years.
Speaking to Belfast Live, she opened up about the support out there for those suffering loss during or after pregnancy and the importance of the show highlighting the many different sides of people's pregnancy journeys in the emotional episode.
Gillian said: "My role is helping and supporting families who have been given a diagnosis that their baby may die in pregnancy or their baby has died in pregnancy or baby has died at birth or shortly after - it is guiding them from that point.
"It is walking with them in their journey through grief so they are not walking alone as we are there to help and support them.
"I have lots of experience working in labour wards and dealing with bereaved families over those years and when an opportunity became available to work alongside Barbra Gergett in developing the support service, that's when I got started in this role."
In her day-to-day role, Gillian would meet with families to plan the next steps after receiving the traigc news, providing tailored care to each individual situation a parent could face and supporting them after birth with decisions such as funeral arrangements.
"The impact of that news is just overwhelming so we talk about what is going to happen when they come into hospital.
"We are sensitive to making sure that we are doing exactly what they want to do and slowing down those decisions and giving them a choice," she explained.
The Royal Jubilee's Snowdrop Room, a dedicated bereavement suite, features in the episode and is a space that allows parents a safe and private area to have time with their baby after delivery and process their grief in their own individual way.
Gillian continued: "It is very difficult but it is such a privilege to care for these families at such a vulnerable time in their life and I do feel very privileged with every family I meet.
"I learn so much from the families as well and it is just recognising the uniqueness of every family's situation and doing the best care at that time that we can - that initial support is so important and helps with their long-term grief."
Despite Louise and Colin's baby loss story being an emotional watch, she believes that the show allows for a truthful and respectful look into a pregnancy journey that unfortunately many families face and represents the spectrum of families they encounter every day on the maternity ward.
"The filming was very sensitive and respectful and they were not intrusive - they were really respectful to the parents and what they wanted," she said.
"I think it shows the diverse range of pregnancy journeys that women can encounter and very sadly, some babies died in pregnancy and it is highlighting that this can happen and the devastating impact for the family when this happens.
"It can make some families feel less alone in seeing that others are going through the same thing."
Gillian highlighted the range of services available for anyone who feels distressed after watching the episode or is currently going through their own baby or child loss grief and wants to reach out for support.
"For those who are feeling emotional while watching, it is best to acknowledge your feelings and emotions at that time and doing what is best for them.
"I would encourage family members who are known to us to contact Barbra or myself for support as well as talking to their loved ones and support charities that are available."
For information on the Belfast Trust’s Bereavement Support Service see here - this includes a list of support organisations and charities including SANDS, the Miscarriage Association and the Twins Trust.
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