The National Maternity Hospital (NMH) will light up in pink and blue as part of the International Wave of Light on Friday the 14th of October to remember all the babies who have died during pregnancy or after birth.
The NMH has also welcomed Rachel Hetherington to the Bereavement Committee at the hospital. Rachel is the first patient to join the group, which to date has comprised members of the Bereavement Support team and staff representatives. Rachel will bring the personal experience of her own journey of miscarriage and loss to the work of the team. Rachel has described the kindness, support and care she received over a number of years from the Bereavement Support team and wider staff at the NMH as ‘second to none’.
One in four women will experience the loss of a pregnancy or infant. In Ireland, there are approximately 380 babies who are stillborn or die shortly after birth each year; that is more than one baby every day. 1% of women will have a recurrent miscarriage, half of which are unexplained.
Speaking about the death of a baby in pregnancy or after birth, Sarah Cullen, Bereavement Clinical Nurse Specialist at the NMH said that she and the bereavement team at the hospital “do our best to provide parents with compassionate care tailored to their individual needs and to help mothers and families to spend time with their baby and take some positive memories away from one of the most traumatic and difficult experiences of their lives”.
In its 20th year, Baby Loss Awareness Week begins on Saturday 8th October. It aims to raise awareness of babies who have sadly passed away during or after pregnancy. A multi-denominational service of remembrance will take place in St Andrews Church, Westland Row, Dublin 2 at 3pm on Sunday 9th October. We invite parents, grandparents, siblings and wider family and friends to come along, to connect and commemorate their babies’ lives.
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For further information or to arrange an interview with a spokesperson from The NMH or The NMH Foundation www.nmhfoundation.ie, please contact
Jennie Cotter jennie.cotter@nmh.ie | 086 776 1890
Notes to editors:
Supports available at The National Maternity Hospital for bereaved parents
TLC Clinic – TLC is a specialised clinic specifically designed to support women who previously suffered recurrent miscarriage. The clinic was established by Dr Cathy Allen, Consultant in charge of the Recurring Miscarriage Service at the hospital, to offer greater support to women who have suffered recurrent pregnancy loss.
Early Pregnancy Loss Support Group - A monthly, online early pregnancy loss support group for women and their partners who have experienced loss through ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy or first trimester miscarriage at The NMH. It is facilitated by a Midwife Specialist in Bereavement & Loss.
Bereavement Clinics - There are three specialised consultant led bereavement clinics providing follow up care for couples who have experienced pregnancy loss through miscarriage and stillbirth. Follow up with a consultant neonatologist is arranged on an individual basis for parents whose baby has died in the neonatal period. These clinics provide an opportunity for couples to be counselled, in a timely manner, in relation to results of medical investigations carried out following the pregnancy loss. The provision of medical certificates in relation to stillbirth and neonatal death are completed, where relevant and given to parents at this time so that they can register their baby’s birth/ death.
For further information on bereavement services at The NMH, please visit https://www.nmh.ie/support-services/bereavement-chaplaincy.13636.html
The following websites also offer excellent support and resources for bereaved parents and their families
Féileacáin (The Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Association of Ireland)- https://feileacain.ie/
The Miscarriage Association of Ireland - http://miscarriage.ie
Leanbh Mo Chroi - https://lmcsupport.ie/
A Little Lifetime Foundation - https://alittlelifetime.ie
Cork miscarriage website - https://www.corkmiscarriage.com