About Gracefully
Grace's Story
In March 2022, my daughter Grace was silently born into the world. Losing her was the most devastingly painful heartbreak I’ve ever known and the days and weeks that followed caused more unnecessary pain which I quickly learned many families like mine receive.
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In those early foggy days of grief I felt failed. Failed by the NHS, failed by the doctors but mostly failed by the midwives who were not fully prepared to support bereaved parents. It was then I knew, Grace’s story had to lead to change.
Grace never took a breath, but her impact has the potential to reach thousands. Thank you for being here, for remembering her, and for helping us build something that will make a lasting difference.
What is missing in bereavement care?
It wasn’t until I became a student midwife in 2023 that I began to understand why I had been failed. Because the education received on bereavement care is sparse and limited. After speaking to other students from around the country I realised this was a consistent problem:​
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Many student midwives report feeling anxious about saying or doing the wrong thing.
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There is little education about how babies will look when stillborn at different gestations.
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There is very little understanding of different religious and cultural needs.
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The guidelines for bereavement care are too long to be able to look at quickly.
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Even registered midwives sometimes struggle to know how to provide compassionate bereavement care.
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If the people we, as families, trust most in those darkest moments don’t have the tools they need, grieving families can feel even more alone. I couldn’t accept that for another mother, or another student midwife/midwife.
Why Gracefully exists
Gracefully is a free educational app designed to fill the gaps. Created by a bereaved mother who is also a student midwife, its mission is to empower future and registered midwives with practical, compassionate and safe bereavement care skills from day one. Inside Gracefully you will find:
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Evidence-based guidance on antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care.
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Practical tips for memory making, communication and supporting families across a range of scenarios.
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‘How to’ video guides.
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Case studies and reflections.
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Interactive quizzes to help you improve your confidence in bereavement care.
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By combining lived experience with best practice research, Gracefully aims to ensure every student and registered midwife feel confident, and every bereaved family feel genuinely cared for.
What's next?
We are honoured to be building Gracefully in collaboration with midwifery staff, charities and student communities across the UK as well as with support from NHS England. Over the coming months, you can expect:
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Sneak peeks at the app’s interface and key features
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Invitations to pilot the app and provide feedback
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Opportunities to support the app’s development through sharing, donating and collaborating with us.
We are aiming for a full launch in early 2026. If you’d like to help shape Gracefully, whether you’re a student midwife, a bereaved parent, an educator, a midwife, or simply someone who believes in compassionate care. Please join our mailing list and follow our journey.