A brand new maternity suite specifically for parents and families who have lost their baby is now open at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn.
Named The Butterfly Suite by the local community, the £250,000 facility will provide a dedicated space for bereaved parents who experience the unimaginable loss of their baby either during pregnancy or shortly after birth. The quiet and private area will enable parents time to create precious memories with their baby, in a safe and comfortable environment separate from the clinical setting.
Previously bereaved parents had to say goodbye to their little ones on a maternity ward where other people could be heard in labour and other families could be heard celebrating the birth of their baby.
The appeal for a new Maternity Bereavement Suite at QEH was launched by the Trust in early 2020 and the redevelopment received the go-ahead following funds raised through generous support of the local community and the Trust’s own QEH Charity, rising a combined £250,000. The appeal was further supported by the Lynn News after becoming its Charity of the Year in 2020.
Amanda Price-Davey, Head of Midwifery at QEH, said: “Losing a baby at any stage of pregnancy can be a very traumatic experience, so to be able to offer families the use of The Butterfly Suite is so vitally important. Families will be able to spend time with their baby, in a comfortable suite that offers them both privacy and the security of being close to the support of the midwifery teams, so that they can make precious memories and begin to grieve their loss”.
The suite was officially opened by Ashley Gamble and Stephanie Gibbs, two parents who both lost their babies at QEH, and a plaque was unveiled reading the words: “There is no foot too small that it cannot leave an imprint on this world”.
Stephanie, a mother who lost her baby son Max, said: “This ‘home from home’ soundproof bereavement suite will make a huge difference to families experiencing the devastating loss of their much-loved babies. It has been such a pleasure to be a part of the fundraising to get the suite, that was so desperately needed, in place.”
Ashley, a father who also lost his baby daughter Summer Ashley, added: “This room is built with the love and power of each of those babies and bereaved families pushing to make a difference for future families who sadly find themselves in the situation of needing this room”.