Bereavement

Our maternity service bereavement team is available to support those experiencing loss from 14 weeks.

A bereavement midwife is available to provide physical, psychological, and emotional support. They can help you with any decisions you have to make, such as funeral arrangements, or follow-up care. This will be alongside the wider team of obstetricians, chaplains and midwives.

Information to help you following the loss of your baby

Although you may be overwhelmed by emotions, it is still important to look after yourself physically. Your body has been through a challenging experience, and it may help to understand what is happening to your body. You will be offered care from the community midwifery team after you go home who can support you and answer any questions you have about your physical recovery in the days after your baby’s birth.

Our maternity services bereavement team are available to provide support to bereaved families and there is an option to create memories and spend time with your baby in a safe and sympathetic environment. Our Snowdrop Suite is available in addition to a single room to enable families time to bond and create memories which are so important to the grieving process.

Maternity service bereavement team contact details

07919 175438

esht.bereavement-maternity@nhs.net

Information and contact details for our central bereavement service is available here.

Snowdrop suite for maternity bereaved families

We have a bereavement suite for parents who have experienced any baby loss. This is called the ‘Snowdrop Suite’ and provides bereaved parents with a little oasis of peace and calm at a very difficult time in their lives. The suite was donated with funds raised by Sands, the leading stillbirth and neonatal death charity in the UK.

The Snowdrop suite is located near to the entrance of the delivery suite to enable on-going care to be given by the midwifery/bereavement team. It is designed to enable bereaved families an opportunity to create memories and spend time with their baby in a safe and sympathetic environment. It enables time to form the bonds and memories which are so important to the grieving process.

Accordion

A directory of support organisations and local contact numbers can be found below:

Information to help you following the loss of your baby

Sands

The Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Charity provides support to anyone affected by the death of a baby, before, during or shortly after birth, whenever this happened and for as long as they need support.

Hastings and East Sussex Sands

Hastings and East Sussex SANDS – Facebook page

Sands Bereavement Support Book

The Lullaby Trust

Is a charitable organisation aiming to prevent unexpected deaths in infancy and promote infant health, they also provide a support service for families who experience the sudden loss of a baby or young child.

Bereavement support

National bereavement care pathway

Publish a database of support links:

Resources for bereaved parents and families

Aching Arms

Aching Arms are available to help and support you when you’ve experienced the heartbreak of losing your baby, during pregnancy, at birth or soon after.

Aching Arms

4Louis

4Louis is a UK charity that works across the country to support anyone affected by miscarriage, stillbirth and the death of a baby or child. They also work to improve the care bereaved families receive from health care and other professionals.

4Louis

We follow the national bereavement care pathway (NBCP) which is based around nine core standards and is updated after input from parents and professionals. The national bereavement care pathway exists to improve the quality and consistency of bereavement care received by parents in NHS trusts after pregnancy loss or the death of a baby. This initiative is supported by Sands.

national bereavement care pathway logo