An innovative Walsall clinic is supporting parents who have suffered baby loss, have mental health needs or have experienced previous birth trauma.

Believed to be the only one of its kind in the Black Country, the Calm Connections Clinic is run by three specialist Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust Midwives.

Tracy Denmade, Birth Reflections/Patient Experience Midwife, Laura Atkinson, Specialist Bereavement Midwife, and Hari Nijjar, Mental Health Specialist Midwife, opened the clinic.

It provides a compassionate and safe space for families to discuss their experiences, receive emotional support, and access tailored care.

Through one-to-one consultations, talking, and signposting to additional resources, the clinic is designed to promote healing, resilience, and emotional well-being.

Referrals to the clinic are made by Doctors and Midwives via an electronic referral system.

The clinic, which partners with the Mind Kind Projects and is based at The Mind Kind Hub in Proffitt Street, Walsall, runs every Tuesday from 9.30am to 1.30pm.

“Since it has opened we have supported 53 women,” said Tracy, pictured right. “There is an increased awareness and we have seen a rise in the number of women being referred to us.

“The three of us book women in according to the referral and their individual needs. We are not aware of any other Trust offering this service.”

Hari, whose full-time post is partly financed by Walsall Council, provides comprehensive care to women and families during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period.

“We found we were getting referrals that needed a multi-disciplinary team approach from the three of us and decided to put this clinic in place to offer support to the women and families who needed it,” added Hari, pictured left

“The Black Country is one of the most deprived areas in the country, and combined with the increased risk of mental health issues, it makes the need for specialised care even more critical.

“Although the latest Mothers and Babies: Reducing Risk through Audits and Confidential Enquiries across the UK (MBRACE) report shows maternal deaths have decreased, maternal mental health is still one of the leading causes of suicide.

“We’re hoping by promoting the success of our clinic it will encourage other NHS Trusts to introduce this, and women and families get the seamless care and the right support at the right time.”

Laura, pictured centre, said: “The clinic is a much-needed service that provides compassionate, specialist support for families who have experienced the heartbreak of baby loss.

“For those embarking on a subsequent pregnancy after loss, this can bring a mix of emotions – hope, anxiety, and fear.

“We offer a safe space for parents to share their concerns, reflect on their experiences, and receive tailored support to help them feel more reassured and empowered throughout their pregnancy.

“Our aim is to provide care that is sensitive, understanding, and responsive to their needs.

“We want parents to feel heard, supported, and confident as they move forward, knowing they have a dedicated team by their side.”

Mum of two Pauline Ncube, 30, was referred to the clinic after a traumatic experience with her first born which ended up in a category one emergency C-section.

“I didn’t have a choice of delivery due to risk to both our lives and I missed the first hours of my daughter’s life because I was under general anaesthesia,” said Pauline.

“This left me fearful of the same issue reoccurring, which caused anxiety and trepidation.

“A referral to Calm Connections Clinic changed everything. I had three amazing professional ladies to speak through my experience.

“At last, I felt empowered to choose and be given control back over what happens to my own body.

“Tracy, Hari and Laura enabled me to make the best decisions for me and gave me the confidence to stand firm in my decisions.

“I was able to decide on a planned C-section and meet the anaesthetic team beforehand for a note to be put into my file to not be put under general anaesthesia.

“My planned C section is one of the best decisions I’ve made. I didn’t know having a baby could be such a positive and painless experience.

“After surgery, I had a huge smile as it felt so amazing not fearing for my life and my child’s life and being awake to hold my baby.

“Calm Connections Clinic completely transformed, healed and restored my birth experience, which was noted by my husband, who was supportive throughout.”