Maternity bereavement team hosts events to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week

To mark Baby Loss Awareness Week (Wednesday 9 to Tuesday 15 October), our Vilomah Maternity Bereavement Team are hosting a series of events, including a special candle lighting service.

On Wednesday 9 October from 8am to 4pm, the team will be in the hospital’s main entrance, along with representatives from Cherished Whispers, to help raise awareness and much needed funds for the charity. The hospital’s iconic clock tower will also be lit up in pink and blue throughout the week too.

An Annual Service of Remembrance and Hope will be held at St Augustine’s Church, Rock Avenue, Gillingham, from 3pm on Sunday 13 October. A ‘Wave of Light’ service for people to light a candle in memory of all babies gone too soon, will take place live at 7pm on Tuesday 15 October on the Medway Maternity Facebook page.

The team supports parents following the loss of a baby in the hospital’s maternity department, gynaecology department and the neonatal unit.

Two midwives stand in front of a wall that has an set of angel wings on. They both hold candles in their hands.

Lead Specialist Bereavement Midwife Yvonne Morrison said: “The support we offer is tailored to each family’s needs. It can be support, advice and guidance through telephone calls, as well as WhatsApp messages and face-to-face home visits for as long as required. We provide support for siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles too as we know that the loss of a baby is a far-reaching event. As part of our role, we also help with funeral arrangements.

“Working closely with other teams, we ensure parents can make informed choices, have all their results and care plans for subsequent pregnancies in place and that every baby can receive a blessing by our chaplains when they are born.

“Additional support is offered to families who are pregnant following the loss of a baby, as this can be an extremely emotional and difficult time that is filled with worry, anxiety, sadness and uncertainty as well as happiness.”

Thanks to the charity Abigail’s Footsteps, Abigail’s Place was opened at the hospital in 2016. The bespoke bereavement suite allows families to spend time with their babies before they go home. Described as the gold standard of bereavement suites, it is something the team, and the hospital, is immensely proud of.

Yvonne added: “We strive to maintain the gold standard we know our parents and families deserve as we know we only have one chance to make it right. With all that we do and everything we have to offer families during one of the darkest times of their lives, we strive to achieve this.”

With the help of other charities, the team can offer the following memory making and support to families following the loss of a baby:

Making Miracles – Memory Bears, storybooks and bereavement counselling.
Aching Arms – teddy bears that parents can carry out of the hospital, so their arms are not empty.
4Louis – Moses baskets, blankets, towels, sibling packs, religious packs for different faiths.
First Touch Tiles – Free ceramic hand and footprint tiles.
SANDS – Hand and footprint kits.

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Dr Jaroslaw Beta, who is known to colleagues and service users as Jarek, holds baby Jarek who is named after him. Mum Lauren Davies is pictured next to them.

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