Extra support is now available to bereaved parents at the James Paget University Hospital (JPUH), thanks to the help of a baby loss charity.
CRADLE is a registered charity which supports parents during, or following early pregnancy loss, and provides comfort bags to 40 NHS hospital trusts across the country.
The first sets of bags, which contain everyday essentials, were donated to JPUH during lockdown, to be handed out on the gynaecology surgical and maternity wards.
They were delivered by CRADLE ambassador Keeley Kemp, from Great Yarmouth.
Keeley said: “I became involved with CRADLE following my fourth pregnancy loss earlier this year, which unfortunately had quite a rare complication in that it was heterotopic. This meant lots of hospital appointments and admissions, and as this was during the COVID-19 pandemic, I had to go to scans and tests without my husband.
“The staff at the JPUH were all amazing, and so caring but more than ever I felt the emptiness and isolation that losing your babies can bring. I found the support of CRADLE online from my hospital bed, and I immediately knew it was something I wanted to be involved in- a group of incredible people using their own painful experiences of pregnancy loss to bring comfort to other bereaved parents.
“Volunteering for CRADLE and working with the wonderful team of ambassadors in Norfolk has helped me not only in raising awareness of the impact of early pregnancy loss, but also to remember my babies while knowing they are making a difference to other peoples experiencing devastating loss.”
Head of Midwifery and Gynaecology Services at JPUH Kirsty Cater said: “We would like to thank all those at the CRADLE charity for supporting us. The comfort bags are a really thoughtful way to provide support at such a difficult time and we know they will be much appreciated.”
The comfort bag project was originally set up to support women who may be admitted to hospital unexpectedly during Ectopic Pregnancies, but are now available to women admitted into hospital for any type of pregnancy loss, including TFMR up to 23 Weeks and 6 days.
The Bags are filled with practical items and toiletries, such as wet wipes, lip balm and deodorant, but the most important thing in a CRADLE comfort bag is the Dear Friend Letter, which signposts women and partners to CRADLEs support services.
For more information or to support CRADLE please contact CRADLE Founder, Louise Zeniou louise@cradlecharity.org