Questions for late loss parents re: Bereavement room

[TeniBear]

Just ing this for you


Sent from my iPhone so forgive the speelung misstacks

[sarahrach]

Hi Tash - I've heard of horror stories about this, so I applaud you in trying to do something.

For us, we were in very lovely surroundings. We birthed our boys at St John of God in Berwick. We were given the smaller birthing suite to begin with as there was another woman in labour and she was given priority (which was fine, it was still a lovely room). I was in the birth suite being induced for one day and one night, during which hubbie stayed on a trundle bed.

Once the boys were born and after we spent probably another hour or so in the birth suite we were all move to a private room a little ways away from the maternity section (I never saw or heard any babies during my stay in this room). They put a butterfly sign on the door (which is obviously code for angel baby) and we were kept very private and seperate from maternity. They set my call button to go through to the midwives desk. We could stay pretty much as long as we liked. Given I birthed the boys at 10am we felt we were able to go home at 7pm that night without staying the night. I believe the room had a single bed, but there would not have been a problem either moving to a double room (if one was available) or having the trundle bed again if we decided to stay the night.

[blessedatlast]

The day our babes were having their life support removed we were taken into a big room that had a futon. It was on the same floor as NICU. I'm not sure if the room was especially for this or not, but maybe it was. It was kind of away from the other rooms and you couldn't see in. It was nice to lay the futon out and lay with our bubs between us..

There was also a parents room up the other end which had a fold out double bed, ensuite and a small kitchen. We stayed there the night Taite had his operation and we were also taken there the day they died to bath them.. What you are suggesting would be fabulous.. It is so important to have the room for family, and it's nice to be able to sleep in the same bed as your partner..

[Samcougar]

What a great idea,

I gave birth to Riley at the Manning Base in Taree at 5.30pm in the birth suite and we were left there while all of our family visited. We were given the option to stay in a private room in Maternity but i couldn't handle all the other babies crying. So we left at about 10.30pm they did however tell us if we wanted to visit him again to come back and they would bring him to see us, i thought that was nice of them. The midwives were so nice and understanding.

[ButterflyForever]

It's a great idea, wish all hospitals could have the correct facilities.

I was a Nepean Hospital in Penrith.
It was poor really.
Milana survivied 2 days in Nicu, then we had to turn off life support.
She was placed in my arms. life support was switched off, then i had to be wheeled to a quiet room at the opposite end of Nicu, with everyone watching me talking to her while she died
I stayed in the quiet room for a couple of hours with her, then went back up to the antenatal ward in a private room, could still here all the babies crying though.

I am working with the hospital to change policy at the moment, I am working with the Director to implement a bereavement brochure and with the assistance of NICUPS we have fundraised and bought a Cold Cot (donated in memory of Milana), so all parents can spend precious time with there bubs.

Helping other parents, has helped me to heal,

take care

[Me+him+bub]

hi there i think that is a wonderful Idea, im an RN at greenslopes private in brisbane and have been there quite a while we are starting to build a whole wing dedicated to maternity, birth and paeds, im going to contact the CEO and request one be built and will start a petition, will keep you updated and hope to obtain all your signatures.

[water_lily80]

Hey there, what a great idea you have.

I had my son in a regular birthing suite at Mercy in Mt Lawley, Perth, and was able to spend some time with him there. and was then offered a private room on a totally seperate floor from maternity, which I really appreciated. I think I remember saying "please don't put me near any babies", so I am unsure if this is usual policy? I also had a chaplain (a nun I think) come and try to give me some supporty, I admit I don't think I was ready for that at the time. The hospy (private) also didn't send me any bills although every admission usually incurs a fee/ even if you have full health insurance which I did at the time, which I also appreciated, just a small gesture, but showed they cared, iykwim?