AVON HELLO TOMORROW FUND
One in four pregnancies in the UK end in miscarriage, yet there is very little support for the women who suffer the traumatic experience of losing a child. I hope to set up an emotional and practical advice service to help women rebuild their lives after suffering a miscarriage.
For most women, miscarriage means not only losing a much-wanted baby, but all of the hopes, plans and dreams that started with a positive pregnancy test. Few people realise that one in four pregnancies end in miscarriage – that’s an estimated 250,000 miscarriages in the UK each year. Yet despite it being so common, miscarriage is still something of a taboo subject. Many people don’t appreciate how devastating it can be, or how it make women feel very isolated, alone and unsupported. From personal experience, I know the feelings of shock, grief and loss that many women suffer. I also know these often become more intense over time and last for longer than people expect.
I hope to set up a strong, local peer support group for women who have lost a baby through miscarriage. I will work with The Miscarriage Association to run a training programme for volunteers, many of whom will have suffered a miscarriage themselves. They will offer a listening ear, emotional support, understanding and time. They will help give women practical advice, sign posting them to counselling and healthcare services.
Personally, I was only offered short-term support but was then left feeling alone, with no one to talk to. Hopefully I can create such a much needed support service for other women, to help them overcome their loss and rebuild their lives.