ASPH is celebrating 21 years of ‘The Birth Reflections, Birth Support, Counselling and Bereavement’ service founded by the late Anna Roland-Price.
This service offers parents the opportunity to reflect on their birth experience and receive extra support for those who experience a trauma, anxiety or loss.
Anna was passionate about providing patients with support and guidance throughout the birth experience and importantly raised awareness of ‘Tocophobia’, the intense fear of pregnancy and childbirth. She worked tirelessly with fellow midwife and trained counsellor, Zara Chamberlain, to publicise and reduce the negative psychological effect this can have on parents. In 2010 the ‘Birth Reflection’ service later won an ‘All-party Parliamentary’ award in recognition of the care for postnatal women.
Zara Chamberlain and Sandra Simpson (pictured left), Birth Reflections / Bereavement Midwife, are part of the maternity team that continue to offer this excellent support service for parents.
Zara Chamberlain, Counsellor and Psychotherapist said: “Sadly Anna died last December but was truly ahead of her time and remains one of the most inspirational midwives I have ever known. She would have been so very proud that the service she began all those years ago remains an integral and important part of the maternity service at Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals.”
A grateful parent, said: “I am just so grateful to the amazing team that run the Birth Reflections Service at ASPH. They not only helped me reflect and recover from my first birth experience, which was very traumatic for both me and my son who came close to losing his life. But also helped me mentally prepare for my second birth, which I had a huge amount of fear and anxiety around. I will never forget their kind and supportive approach which enabled me to go into my second birth experience with a more positive outlook.”
