Cake sale raises funds and awareness for Babyloss week
12 October 2017
Health Care
The 9-15 October is national Babyloss awareness week, a time to remember all babies lost, whether that be during pregnancy, birth or after birth.
Staff from the Early Pregnancy Unit (EPU) and Bereavement
Support at Southend University Hospital hosted a cake stand
brimming with delicious cakes and information on the help available
to families going through this difficult period.
Amanda Cushing, Bereavement Support Manager, said: "The Early
Pregnancy Unit care for ladies up until 17 weeks of their pregnancy
and support them through any complications during this time. This
is incredibly significant because sadly one in four pregnancies end
in miscarriage, molar or ectopic pregnancy.
"This is a devastating time for the whole family and we, as a
service, aim to provide the support needed to help the family cope
medically and emotionally. We wish to raise money to improve our
service, ultimately looking towards an extra scanner to improve
patient waiting times and comfort."
The cake sale raised £435 and the team were also raising
awareness of pregnancy complications, with the aim of reducing
pregnancy loss and supporting those who are going through this
time.
Also on the stand was Eastwood Ward and EPU Triage Nurse, Lorna
Lawrence, whose been working in the area for the last six years.
Unfortunately, she also brings her own experience to the role.
Lorna said: "I lost a baby boy, Noah at 23 weeks, shortly after
birth in 2013 following a complicated pregnancy. This has made me
feel more determined about providing high quality care for these
ladies as the care I received during pregnancy and after Noah's
death - and my subsequent pregnancies - made a huge difference to
my husband and I.
"The memory box, blanket and mementos provided, all free of
charge, have provided our family with life long memories to share
and we are very grateful for this. It is very important to me that
families going through babyloss receive comfort, support and
acknowledgement at this devastating time."