Perinatal Trauma and Loss Care Service

Who is the service for?

Person is experiencing moderate or severe psychological distress, symptoms of post traumatic stress following perinatal trauma. Referral accepted from 3 months post birth.

Person is experiencing moderate or severe  psychological distress, which may include symptoms of post traumatic stress or complicated / prolonged grief following perinatal loss. Referral accepted from 3 months following their loss.

Person is experiencing moderate or severe psychological distress during pregnancy, associated to previous perinatal trauma or loss (no time limit).

Person is experiencing severe fear of childbirth with or without previous birth experience (primary and secondary tokophobia).

We include a loss as one of the following;

• Miscarriage
• Stillbirth
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Neonatal death
• Unsuccessful IVF
• Termination for medical reasons (TFMR).

How to access the service

As of 1 June we are running a self-referral pilot. This is only for those who are pregnant following perinatal trauma or loss or have a severe fear of childbirth. If this is you, please complete the self-referral form. If you are not currently pregnant but believe you would benefit from the service, please speak to a healthcare professional who can make a referral on your behalf.

We accept referrals from any healthcare professional. Should they require a copy of our referral form, they can contact us at lpft.p-tlcservice@nhs.net.

Who is in the team?

The Perinatal Trauma and Loss Care Service is a psychology-driven service providing individual therapy. We have a small team of Psychologists, Assistant Psychologists and Psychotherapists. We have additional multi-disciplinary staff who support the service in different ways. 

Our Specialist Midwife works with women and birthing people who are pregnant and newly postnatal. Specialist Midwife support in the antenatal period will complement psychological therapy with antenatal education, individualised birth planning and tailored support. During the early weeks after birth, Specialist Midwife postnatal support can be available until you return to regular psychological therapy. The aim of Specialist Midwifery is to assist women and birthing people to navigate their pregnancy, birth, and early weeks in way that promotes emotional safety and wellbeing.

Our Peer support worker has lived experience of trauma and loss. Peer support workers are able to offer support in the form of story sharing, pregnancy/parenting after loss support, trauma education and to support signposting of outside charities and professionals.

Meet the team

Laura

Hi, my name is Laura, I am the team’s Peer Support Worker. I have worked with the team since 2022 when the service was still in its infancy. I have been fortunate to be with the team throughout the planning of the service to ensure that the voice of bereaved families is always at the heart of what we do.

Peer support workers play a vital role in the recovery of those accessing our service. Alongside therapy, I am able to provide a safe and friendly space to talk about your trauma or loss. I hope sharing my story and my experiences gives others a sense of hope, that there is life after trauma and loss.

Coralie

Hi, I am Coralie and I am the Specialist Midwife for the service. I work with clients who are currently receiving therapy with the service and are pregnant or newly postnatal. As a qualified midwife with over 23 years’ experience, I support during the antenatal period and will complement psychological therapy with antenatal education, individualised birth planning and tailored support. During the early weeks after birth, my postnatal support can be available until you return to regular psychological therapy. My aim as the Specialist Midwifery is to assist you to navigate your pregnancy, birth, and early weeks in way that promotes and prioritises your emotional safety and wellbeing.

Edie

Hi there, my name is Edie and I am the team’s Senior Assistant Psychologist. I joined the team in August 2024 after working in the Perinatal Community Mental Health Team. As a parent to two children with my own experiences of perinatal trauma, I’ve always wanted to guide others in their own experiences and to advocate for quality maternity care. I offer psychologically informed interventions for women and birthing people who have experienced perinatal trauma and/or loss, as well as those who are pregnant after perinatal trauma and/or loss. I am trained in multiple therapy models to provide a person-centred approach and enable me to be adaptable to different peoples’ needs. It’s the most fulfilling role I have had in my career so far, and I walk alongside people and their experiences when they need it most. 

Hannah

I work as a Psychotherapist within the service, supporting women and birthing people who have experienced trauma or bereavement during pregnancy, birth, or the early postnatal period. My role is to provide a compassionate space where people can explore what has happened to them, make sense of their experiences, and find a way forward that feels right for them.  My therapeutic work focuses on helping individuals: understand and process traumatic or overwhelming experiences, navigate grief in all its forms, rebuild a sense of safety, trust, and connection, strengthen emotional wellbeing during pregnancy or after birth, prepare for future pregnancies following trauma or loss whilst feeling heard, validated and supported. 

What we offer

The episode of care provided will be based on individual needs and preferences and may include:

• Evidence-based and trauma-focussed psychological therapy to process traumatic experiences from pregnancy, birth, or the postnatal period.
• Trauma-informed psychological therapy following pregnancy or baby loss.
• A psychologically safe space to make sense of and process feelings of grief, fear, guilt, anger, anxiety, and shame.
• Developing and strengthening skills and strategies to reduce psychological distress.
• Psychoeducation about trauma and associated mental health difficulties.
• Talking with someone who has also experienced perinatal loss.
• Specialist midwifery assessment and care planning, including the development of integrated, psychologically informed care plans and personalised birth plans.
• Support in preparing for future pregnancies and births.

Who we work alongside

Petals

Petals is a baby loss charity, who can provide specialist counselling for bereaved parents. In Lincolnshire there is funded sessions available for those who received maternity care or gave birth at a United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospital (ULTH) site, within the last year. Where a person has experienced a loss before maternity care commences a referral is accepted on the basis that they would have received their maternity care with ULTH.

Specialist bereavement services at United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 

The Bereavement Service at United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust provides support to women and families who have experienced pregnancy loss from 16 weeks’ gestation onwards, including neonatal death. Support is tailored to individual needs and may include practical guidance for labour ward midwives with memory‑making, discussions about options after birth such as tests, funeral arrangements and birth registration.

The service also offers support during the postnatal period in the community, which may involve ongoing assistance with birth registration arrangements where required, as well as signposting to psychological support. Follow‑up after postmortem and placental pathology results is also provided, including arranging appointments for debrief discussions.

Individualised support may also be offered to families experiencing pregnancy loss before 16 weeks’ gestation, assessed on a case‑by‑case basis.

Your journey through the service

The pathway below outlines what to expect once a referral has been made to the service.

Referral and initial contact

If the referral is appropriate, you will receive a telephone call within 21 days inviting you to attend an assessment appointment.

Assessment appointment

We offer face to face assessments at our three bases, Lincoln Archway, Boston Archway and Elm Lodge in Grantham. Where it is preferred virtual assessments can be offered via Microsoft teams. We aim to complete an assessment within 6 weeks of receiving the referral.

This initial appointment helps the team understand your needs and the type of support that will be most helpful.

Waiting list and support options

After assessment, you will be placed on the service waiting list. The wait time varies based on demand and capacity. Some individuals may be offered Peer Support or Midwifery input whilst waiting to begin psychological therapy.

Therapy

When therapy begins, a personalised plan for your therapeutic intervention will be discussed and agreed with you.

After therapy

Following your therapeutic intervention, one of the following outcomes may apply:

• Discharge from the service – decisions are made collaboratively, ensuring you are fully involved throughout your therapy journey.
• Onward referral and signposting – this may be another LPFT service or third sector services.
• Support from the specialist midwife, if this is considered appropriate for your needs.

Jargon buster

Antenatal - before birth; during or relating to pregnancy.

Postnatal - relating to or denoting the period after childbirth.

Tokophobia - Tokophobia is an extreme, debilitating fear of pregnancy and/or child birth impacting a person's desire to have children or enjoy pregnancy, and can lead to avoiding conception, requesting C-sections, or terminating pregnancies. Tokophobia is categorised as primary (no prior birth) or secondary (after a traumatic birth).

Psychological Distress- is a state of emotional suffering with symptoms like anxiety, depression, hopelessness, and feeling overwhelmed, ranging from normal feelings of vulnerability to severe impairment of your day to day life.

Psychological intervention – structured action or therapy using psychological methods to improve mental health, behaviours, emotions, and overall functioning, aiming for symptom relief and better quality of life.  

PTSD – Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, avoidance, negative mood changes (guilt, shame, detachment), and hyperarousal (feeling constantly on edge) that significantly disrupt daily life.

Prolonged Grief – is a persistent and intense form of grief where normal mourning doesn't transition, leading to debilitating symptoms like intense yearning, preoccupation, emotional numbness, and significant impairment in daily life.

Resources

Perinatal Trauma and Loss Care Service leaflet

Further support

Myths and facts about perinatal mental health difficulties

Testimonials

What people say about us