Pregnancy Loss and Paediatric Bereavement Remembrance events
The NHSCT has 2 multidisciplinary groups of staff who meet on Antrim and Causeway sites and organise events for bereaved parents and their families to attend to remember their baby or child.
Snowdrop walk
On the third Sunday in February of each year the group has responsibility for organising an annual Snowdrop Walk which takes place at Shane’s Castle, Antrim. This event gives families the opportunity to plant snowdrop bulbs in memory of their baby/child. It is a time for remembrance and reflection and also an opportunity to meet with others who have experienced a similar loss.
A new dedicated Garden of Remembrance is in the development stages on the Antrim site. Once this is opened the Snowdrop walk will move to the Garden of Remembrance.
Books of Remembrance
The NHSCT have two Books of Remembrance dedicated in memory of children cared for by staff. These are held in Antrim and Causeway Hospitals. You can have your baby or child’s name inscribed in these on an individual page, with your chosen verse, message or picture.
If you decide you would like to have an entry made in the Book of Remembrance, , please contact the Bereavement Support Midwife and indicate your preference for which book you would like the entry in.
Remembrance service
On the third Sunday in May of each year the group organises a Remembrance Service in the Antrim area. The services are carried out by the hospital chaplains and they rotate the venue around the four main church denominations. The Books of Remembrance held in the Neonatal Unit at Antrim Hospital are re-dedicated at this service each year.
In October, a service is also organised in the Causeway area. The books of remembrance held in Causeway are rededicated at this service each year.
All bereaved parents, their families and professionals involved are welcome to attend either or both of these events – invitations are not required. However, if a bereaved parent wishes to receive an invitation, they can do so by contacting the Bereavement Support Midwife.
Other Helpful Resources
SANDS – Stillbirth and Neo-Natal Death Charity- Tel 0808 164 3332 www.uk-sands.org
SANDS Northern Ireland- Contact – https://northernireland.sands.org.uk/contact
SANDS support app – available to download on Google Play and App Store
CHILD BEREAVEMENT UK – https://www.childbereavementuk.org/ Tel- 0800 028 8840
Miscarriage Association – https://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk Tel NI helpline 077 4099 3450
Cruse Child Bereavement Service – Interactive website for 12-18’s www.hopeagain.org.uk
Tel 0808 808 1677
Life after Loss – www.lifeafterloss.org.uk Tel 028 9260 5578
Mariposa Trust – www.sayinggoodbye.org Tel 0845 293 8027
SIMBA – www.simbacharity.org.uk- Tel 0131 353 0055
ARC –Antenatal Results &Choices-www.arc-uk.org – Tel 0845 077 2290/020 7713 7486
ANAMCARA – www.anamcara.ie Tel 0852 888 888
Tommy’s – midwife@tommys.org/ Tel 0800 014 7800
Twins Trust– https://twinstrust.org/bereavement.html Tel: 012 5233 2344
S.O.F.T – Support organisation for Trisomy13/18 – https://www.softireland.com
PETALS charity- https://petalscharity.org/ Tel 0300 688 0068
Coping with the loss of a baby
Some Examples of Children’s books- easily found on in most bookstores or online
‘We were gonna have a baby, but we had an angel instead’ Pat Schwiebert
Age 2-5 years. Created especially for children who are suffering the loss of their family’s pregnancy
‘Something happened’ Cathy Blanford
A book for children and parents who have experienced pregnancy loss.
‘A Rainbow Baby story’ Crystal A Falk
Age 2-5 years. Book for children that helps parents explain the loss of a sibling through miscarriage, stillbirth or infant loss in a way that children can understand.
‘Ethan’s Butterflies’- Christine Jonas Simpson
A spiritual book for young children and parents after the loss of a baby
‘What does dead mean’ – Caroline Jay and Jenni Thomas
Age 4 and up- A book for young children to explain death and dying
‘Sad isn’t bad’ – Michaelene Mundy
Age 4-8 years- A Good-grief guidebook for children dealing with loss
‘The coat I wear’- Mel Maxwell
Allows children to understand more about why and how they feel as they do after the death of someone close.
‘A Huge Bag of Worries’ – Virginia Ironside
Age 3-8 years- about a childs bag of worries and who they can give them to
Help me say Goodbye’ – Janis Silverman
Activities for helping children cope when a special person dies.
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