Supporting you if you sadly lose your baby
Having a baby should be the most exciting time in your life. Unfortunately, a distressing reality is that a small number of babies sadly die during pregnancy, around the time of birth, or in the days following birth.
Our team at Morecambe Bay are committed to supporting those families who have suffered the loss of a baby in pregnancy or following birth.
In tragic situations such as this, everyone’s needs are very different so we will work with families to provide sensitive and compassionate care that is tailored to their needs - both individually, and as a family.
At Morecambe Bay, our Bereavement Midwives will support you and your family throughout your time in hospital, and when you return home in the community.
Along with their midwife colleagues, they will help to guide you and your family on your bereavement journey with compassion, kindness, respect, dignity, and honesty.
They will also help you to create lasting memories with your baby, should you wish to.
Bereavement Midwives are an essential point of contact for families during this difficult, painful and emotional time. They provide a compassionate link between you and bereavement services, including supporting you and your family to organise funerals, register deaths, and explain any results and investigations as to why your baby has died.
They can signpost you and your family for ongoing support and counselling services, if appropriate.
They also teach midwives and maternity staff, providing support and guidance for them to ensure they are updated with current guidelines and teaching practices. This work enables us to offer gold standard care to all women and their families.
Remembrance services are held in Lancaster and Barrow each year for anyone who has lost a baby.
For more information on the Bereavement Services offered within Maternity Service, please contact: bereavement.midwives@mbht.nhs.uk
Celia Sykes, Bereavement Midwife for Royal Lancaster Infirmary, telephone: 07584 508089, email: celia.sykes@mbht.nhs.uk
There are many supportive organisations and charities who provide further support and information:
Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Charity
Three support groups are also run by the bereavement midwives, and local charity Tigerlily every month. Please visit the Tigerlily Facebook page for more information.