New support for parents experiencing early pregnancy loss
A new national charity called CRADLE has donated 100 comfort bags to help Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust offer additional support to parents following pregnancy loss.
As well as providing training, support, and focus groups, CRADLE donate emergency comfort bags for bereaved parents who have been admitted into hospital unexpectedly, to help bring them some comfort during a difficult and stressful time. The most important thing in the comfort bag is a Dear Friend letter to bereaved parents, signposting anyone affected by baby loss to CRADLE’s support.
The bags include items such as shampoo, conditioners and shower gels, toothbrushes and toothpaste, wipes, slippers, hairbrushes and bobbles and sunflower seeds to plant in memory of their baby.
Belinda Champion, Advanced Clinical Practitioner and Senior Lead Nurse cross site early pregnancy services at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust explained:
“We are delighted to be working with CRADLE, to offer support to parents who have experienced an early pregnancy loss at University Hospital Lewisham and Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich. These comfort bags will make a real difference to families at a really difficult time.
“Pregnancy loss can affect anyone, including our own staff, so it was great to host CRADLE’s information stand to raise awareness of this new initiative at our hospitals. We will also be encouraging colleagues to donate toiletries to help us maintain a supply of comfort bags.
“As the CRADLE ambassador for the Trust, I lead on delivering bereavement training to local colleagues who support parents following pregnancy loss. I am also working closely with Louise Zeniou, the founder and Director at CRADLE to deliver national bereavement training to healthcare professionals who support parents following pregnancy loss.”
Dawn Atkinson, one of three volunteer Lewisham Mayoresses, attended a socially distanced launch at University Hospital Lewisham. Expressing her support for the project she said: “I am honoured to be part of the launch this morning to support parents who’ve experienced a loss.”
How you can help
If you would like to support this campaign please email Belinda Champion on bchampion@nhs.net
If you would like to donate towards the comfort bags, please look at the Amazon wish list set up by the Help Lewisham Hospital (a group of volunteers supporting University Hospital Lewisham and the local community). Every item will go towards helping the early pregnancy assessment unit to create comfort bags for those who have suffered pregnancy loss.
