Birth stories

Birth Stories gives women and birthing people the opportunity to talk through their birth experience, especially if you have had a traumatic labour.

What to expect

We provide a one-to-one session where we can also talk through your obstetric notes. Partners are welcome to attend.

It’s an opportunity to understand events, talk through your feelings about your birth and raise any concerns. We can also discuss how your experience may affect you in your next pregnancy or birth. Another part of this service is to take the feedback to our staff so that lessons can be learned and practice improved.

Availability and location

Brighton and Haywards Heath

The Birth Stories midwife is Jane Canning and she works 3 days a week, generally Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Clinics are available at the Royal Sussex County, Hollingdean Children’s Centre and the Princess Royal Hospital in Hayward’s Heath.

You can contact Jane Canning, Birth Stories Specialist Midwife at: [email protected]

How to be referred

The service is currently offered to women and birthing people in the first year after birth.

We recommend that you contact your midwife, GP or health visitor to discuss your concerns. They can then refer you to us. We also accept referrals from mental health and wellbeing services.

Appointments are generally available within 8-10 weeks of referral.

Worthing and Chichester

Annie Hamilton is the Midwife Counsellor at St Richards and Worthing hospitals.

She offers a support service to all women and birthing people and their partners in Birth Afterthoughts. This a one to one session either in person or by telephone to discuss their birth experience; we read the birth notes in detail, get a time line of events and answer any questions. This can all help to understand what happened and why, which can in turn help to relieve anxieties.

How to be referred

There is no time limit to this service.

Self-refer by phoning 07876475772. This number is also on all postnatal purple folders
Refer by email: [email protected]
Referral can also be made by any health professional.

Annie also offers a birth options/choices clinic; a birth after caesarean clinic and a bereavement support service. You can access all these services by self-referral or by Midwife or any health care professional.