Special service for tragic babies

BABIES who have died are to be remembered in a special memorial service at Ipswich Hospital.

Music and poetry will be included in the special service organised by midwives and the hospital chaplain Siw Carlsson.

It is hoped the service, named 'A Time for remembering precious babies' will give parents, friends and relatives to grieve about their loss, no matter how long ago and be supported.

White carnations will be handed out during the service on Sunday April 27 and anyone who has lost a baby is invited to attend.

Midwives in the hospital are always on hand to help parents through their grief when they lose a child.

Jillian Lawrence is senior midwife at the Trust. She said: "When a baby dies, whether in pregnancy or following birth, the parents and family are often left with painful raw emotions.

"The supportive relationship between the parents and midwife seems to be crucial in helping patients cope initially and in the longer term.

"Pregnancy and birth are seen as happy and celebrated events, however loss is a painful experience and it seems inconceivable that these extremes of conflicting emotion can come together."

Ms Lawrence said that it is very important to all those who work in maternity services to give individual care for parents who have experienced loss.

"This is why we want to hold an annual Remembrance Service to offer a safe space to remember and grieve their loss in a supportive way," she said.

Siw Carlsson said: "We hope this will bring comfort to people.

"Especially if it is a very long awaited for child it can be so hard when it happens."

She said the service was there to support people and to help them move on.

"But it is not about forgetting people, it is about remembering them.

"I hope the service that is being put together will speak for itself.

"The thing is to be supportive and being along with people who are still grieving for a loved one."

.The service begins at 2pm and refreshments will be available afterwards.