Robyn McKinnon’s own experience with perinatal death inspired her to support others grieving the loss of a baby.
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Mrs McKinnon’s baby son died at 17 weeks gestation seven years ago.
“I went into early labour and my waters broke, so there was nothing we could do,” Mrs McKinnon said.
“We discovered I had a condition called an incompetent cervix,” she said.
“And then to have to birth him and to go through that process of grieving a loss, and then future pregnancies and the anxieties around that, was really quite a difficult time.”
Mrs McKinnon, who has a counselling practice in Newstead, said she noticed a gap in support services for families grieving perinatal death.
“I became acutely aware of what it was like to go through that, but also the lack of support available,” Mrs McKinnon said.
“I kind of started to investigate that and specialise in that as part of my practice.”
An Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report showed Tasmania had a rate of 9.5 perinatal deaths per 1000 births in 2011-12. The national average was 9.9. Perinatal deaths encompass stillbirths and deaths which occurred in the first four weeks of life, known as neonatal deaths.
Mrs McKinnon also facilitates a support group for Launceston families who have dealt with perinatal death. She said setting up the group and helping others had helped her work through the grieving process.
“There was some meaning to my experience because I went on to have an understanding, but then went on to help other people,” Mrs McKinnon said.
“The death of a baby during pregnancy is not just a physical loss … it is also the loss of many dreams and hopes for [the parents’] future and their expected child.
“I think our society over time has got better at accepting that regardless of the gestation that a baby dies ... a baby is a baby.”
Mrs McKinnon, who has two children aged 3 and 5, said she supported families through new pregnancies after they had dealt with a perinatal death.
“It is such a scary time, and hitting milestones of when they’ve lost a baby the last time or even just that fear constantly … it’s a long nine months,” Mrs McKinnon said.
Mrs McKinnon said should a loved one lose a baby, it was important to be mindful of key dates that could be upsetting, and be open to offering support.
“For some parents, just having a card which acknowledges that baby is really significant,” Mrs McKinnon said.
For information about how to join the perinatal loss support group, you can email Robyn McKinnon on robyn@rmcounselling.com.au