Hannah Robinson who, for the past year has been supported by the South Eastern Trust’s Maternity Psychology Services, following the heart-breaking loss of her baby son Jack, has said the service has been “life-changing”.

Hannah credited her sessions with South Eastern Trust, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Dr Rebecca Black as a “complete life line” following the death of Jack in March 2025.

“Jack was born with a very severe Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) that required emergency surgery on birth which meant that I had to deliver in Dublin. The surgery, although an initial success, Jack did not survive and on the 11th morning he passed away.

“My husband and I did not get to hold Jack until we ended care. Through that, there was a lot of hospital appointments and interventions throughout my pregnancy and that caused me a lot of anxiety and stress.

South Eastern Trust Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Dr Rebecca Black with Hannah Robinson. Pic credit: SEHSCT

placeholder image — South Eastern Trust Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Dr Rebecca Black with Hannah Robinson. Pic credit: SEHSCT

“I do not think anyone ever expects to carry a child for nine months and lose them.”

Hannah shared how following her devasting loss, she was put in touch with the Bereavement Midwives at the Ulster Hospital.

“I had a number of calls with Jacqueline Dorrian and she mentioned about the Maternity Psychologist that was coming onboard.” she explained.

"Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Dr Rebecca Black and I had our first call in July last year. Dr Black’s support has been life changing.”

She continued: “During the sessions you go into conversations talking about Jack, the trauma his Dad and I went through. It brings up other stuff you did not know that you were carrying.

“I have really, really changed as a person. It has changed how I see the perspective of everything.

“Losing Jack was absolutely horrendous. It is something I will live with for the rest of my life. I have learned so many lessons from it, on how I carry on and carry his memory with me. Without the sessions with Dr Black, I would still be in a very dark room.”

Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Dr Rebecca Black explained: “This is a pilot service to support parents at a time which can be an extremely vulnerable one, especially for new families.

“Parents and couples can attend the service, as we acknowledge that, experiences such as birth trauma, can affect partners and families too.

“Psychology Intervention may include groups which are facilitated by a psychologist to offer the parents the understanding and strategies that will support them.

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“It is an absolute privilege to have this service in the South Eastern Trust. There is an extremely high demand for it as we know many people may require this type of specialist input.

“This service can be crucial for parents having a new family, so that they are stronger, through what can be, a challenging time for mental health and well-being.

“Often, in our work, we sit with people during extremely difficult times, whether that is significant trauma from complex birth events, overwhelming antenatal anxiety or complex loss.

"We hear their story and aim to relieve their suffering and help them to understand their emotional distress and become the type of parent that they want to become.

"It really is something that is unique to a maternity psychology service and has a very important impact to those new parents, baby and future family life.”