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Need to Cancel / Change an Appointment visit: Cancel or change your appointment? :: Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust (dgt.nhs.uk)


Appointment text reminder service: Appointment text reminder service :: Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust (dgt.nhs.uk) somewhere on here so people are directed to this page? Any suggestions of how this is possible are very welcome. 

 

 

Online Self-Referral Form for Birth Experience Debrief

“Reflection & Resolution” – Maternity Debriefing service

Due to high demand and limited staff availability, there is currently a significant delay before an appointment can be arranged. We thank you for your patience. 


What is debriefing?

Occasionally, the birth experience may not be what women have hoped for and has left them feeling distressed, anxious or traumatised. These feelings and experiences can predispose postnatal depression and/or post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD). The support, counselling, understanding, and explanation given to women by midwives in the postnatal period can provide benefits to their psychological wellbeing.

This is a service to discuss your birth experience and it is available to all women to discuss past, present and future birthing events. After your meeting, should you require a further follow-up, we will refer you to the appropriate person. 

Please note due to high demand of the Reflect and Resolution Service (Maternity Debrief) there may be a delay before an appointment is arranged.

 

What does debriefing achieve?

Debriefing can enable women to:

  • Discuss their birthing experience, and their feelings around this.
  • To understand what happened to them and why in order to receive validation and resolve self-blame
  • Have the opportunity to express any negative feelings such as anger, frustration, or pain.
  • Discuss any positive aspects of their experience and also discuss implications for future pregnancy and birth.

How to access the service:

Referrals may be made by hospital midwifery staff, community midwives or you can self-refer using the form below.

Once you have been referred, the maternity secretary, will contact you to make an appointment with one of the special debriefing team

At the meeting a member of the Debriefing Team will discuss your birth experience with you and will also have access to your birth notes.

Following this appointment, should you require further support the Debriefing Team will refer you to the appropriate person.

Debriefing appointments

We can offer a face to face appointment, telephone consultation or virtual appointment using a trusted online meeting service. We will discuss these options with you during our initial call following your referral.

If you feel this service is something that you would benefit from, please fill out the below self-referral form.

 

Please note, this service is for Darent Valley Maternity service users only. If you did not give birth with us, please contact the hospital where you gave birth via their website.
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Any information submitted through forms on this website are transferred to us via e-mail and will be dealt with in accordance with data protection legislation. E-mails are not encrypted (ie secure) before being sent to us.

Page last edited: 16 May 2025