The three-year study, led by PhD researcher Kimberley Blay, aims to deepen understanding of couples’ experiences of grief and identify the barriers that can prevent parents from accessing or remaining engaged in counselling.

Pregnancy loss is among the most distressing experiences families can face, with profound and long-lasting psychological impacts. Many parents report symptoms of complicated grief, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress.

While counselling plays a vital role in supporting recovery, existing research has largely focused on mothers’ experiences. Much less is known about fathers and couples, and how they navigate grief together or what types of support they find most valuable.

Speaking about this research, Kimberley said: “It is a privilege to undertake research that has the potential to influence real change for bereaved parents. I hope that by listening to couples directly, we can learn how to improve access to support during this incredibly difficult time.”

This collaborative PhD project reflects a shared commitment between the University and Petals to ensure all parents affected by baby loss can access appropriate, inclusive, and effective care. The findings are expected to help inform more accessible support pathways for all parents following pregnancy loss.

The University of Bedfordshire is home to the Pregnancy Loss Research Network, which aims to bring together researchers, parents with lived experience of pregnancy loss, charities, organisations, and stakeholders to raise awareness and improve care and support for those impacted by pregnancy loss.

Dr Erica Cook, Associate Professor at the University of Bedfordshire, who is supervising this research, said: “We know that counselling can make an enormous difference for parents following pregnancy loss, yet many couples struggle to access or engage with the support they need. This research will shine a light on their experiences, helping us understand how we can provide more equitable, timely and effective care.”

Dr Faye Powell, Senior Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Bedfordshire, who is co-supervising the research, added: “We are delighted to partner with a charity that is so passionate about making a real difference to parents impacted by pregnancy and baby loss. This partnership builds on a broader scheme of work within our Pregnancy Loss Research Network.”

Petals Charity provides specialist counselling to parents experiencing baby loss. Its trauma-focused service aims to offer timely, compassionate, and professional support to help families process grief and begin rebuilding their lives.

Karen Burgess, CEO and founder at Petals Charity, said: “Part of the specialism of our counselling support at Petals is to work with couples together, through the processing of their pregnancy or baby loss experience. Working with Kimberley and supporting her PhD research provides Petals the ideal opportunity to showcase this work and evidence it’s significance in the life experience of a couple. We can’t wait to get started.”