Western Australian mother pushes for better regional support after stillbirth tragedy

Psychologist Heidi Lynn Welsh, based in Bunbury, Western Australia, recounted her experience of miscarriage and a 38-week stillbirth of her daughter Ellie in 2017, noting that hospital discharge left her with only generic pamphlets and no sensitive support. Determined to fill the gap, she started the My Little Luv support group to give regional families a place to share their loss. Midwife and researcher Skye Stewart identified the lack of local bereavement services as the chief obstacle for families in the bush, linking it to higher rates of anxiety and depression.

Data on pregnancy loss remain incomplete nationwide, according to a recent Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report. The WA Country Health Service has now rolled out a perinatal loss pilot service in the South West, offering holistic care and slated for review next year. Federal assistant minister for mental health Emma McBride said the government is exploring consistent miscarriage reporting and a federally funded perinatal mental health centre for Bunbury.