Baby loss facilities away from main maternity wards "essential" - NHS Grampian midwife
As part of our Baby Loss Awareness Week coverage, we're looking into facilities and training provided to help women experiencing this.
Last updated 11th Oct 2022
An NHS Grampian midwife says separate spaces for those going through baby loss is "essential" in hospitals.
As part of our Baby Loss Awareness Week coverage, we're looking into facilities and training provided to help women experiencing this.
The Scottish Government has committed to providing specialist bereavement suites away from maternity wards across the country by 2024.
Aberdeen Maternity Hospital has a ward separate from the main services with two individual rooms for women experiencing losses late in their pregnancy.
Dr Gray's in Elgin also has an en suite bereavement room away from the post natal ward.
There's hopes services can be further improved in the North East when The Baird Family Hospital is completed in 2024.
Specialist roles for supporting families experiencing baby loss
Every year, NHS Grampian helps between 15 to 20 women going through a still birth (more than 24 weeks pregnant), 50 to 60 experiencing a loss after 13 weeks but before 24 weeks and approximately 1,000 going through a miscarriage.
They are also there for around eight to ten families who lose a baby within the first few weeks of their lives.
Bereavement Support Midwife Myra Kinnaird specialises in helping those experiencing baby loss in the North East.
Based at the Aberdeen Maternity Hospital, Myra feels having herself and fellow bereavement colleague Marcia Dean in Elgin shows NHS Grampian's commitment on the issue.
She said: "I think as an NHS Grampian policy, having us in post is one of the main things.
"Because we’re there to support families at whatever stage of pregnancy loss."
Myra outlined hopes of improved services, once The Baird Family Hospital is finished and why it's vital to have separate spaces for those going through baby loss.
She added: "Looking towards the new hospital, we’re hoping to have a bit more space in that area.
"We couldn’t have a double bed in the rooms we have at the moment, but that’s what we’re hoping to have, a bigger sized bed in the new hospital."
"I think it’s essential.
"It isn’t really suitable to have families who are going through a loss in with other areas.
"They need the peace and quiet and away from the hustle and bustle of a hospital.
“We’re always listening to parents we’re always trying to do what is right for families."
Now in its 20th year, Baby Loss Awareness week aims to support anyone effected by pregnancy and baby loss.
With 40 years of experience, Myra explained how attitudes have changed during her time as a midwife.
She said: "Certainly since I started, it was a very different scenario back then.
"Parents weren’t even seeing their baby and didn’t really have that discussion about what happened.
"It’s still a very big taboo subject in society, but baby loss awareness week is a huge event to be able to bring that to the fore."
Where to find help
Support for bereaved families – Birth in Grampian