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..
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.
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.
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.
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?
My situation is different, as I consider Isaiah a mid loss, not a late one, and we birthed at home. But we still had to go to the hossy, so can share that part of it.
Once we found he had passed, we were booked for induction 2 days later. I know our Maternity unit well.. it has 3 normal birthing rooms, all in a row, and you can hear every noise from them.... maternity unit is just around the corner, so you can hear the ward as well.
I was told there was no where else to birth, just one of the rooms... I was DREADING it so much.......
Luckily, he came at 3.00am at home, before we had to go be induced. Adam rang and told them I was fine, we will call in later in the morning.
About 10am we went to maternity, and had to walk through the entire ward, then birthing unit, carrying Isaiah.... it was horrendous.
Once there, we were put into a birthing room, with 2 labouring mums on either side... even more horrendous. We had to walk through the labour ward waiting room... just hideous.
The middies were so lovely, but I could hear the birthing mums, and the nursery, and the ward.... had we had any family/friends come, they would of been in the labour waiting room, and then the labour suite....
There is no seperate room or area at our hossy, its just a maternity/nursery/birthing rooms all in one section. I think your idea is absolutely beautiful, and very much needed at many hospitals.
Thank you all for your responses. It's heartening to hear some hospitals have thought this through and have some resources. It's so frustrating that such a basic service isn't offered at all maternity hospitals. Babyloss happens and it's always a shock. There should be something as basic as a bereavement room available at all hospitals.
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