'They made a tragedy slightly more bearable'

“It doesn’t just stop at the end of the day, when you go home you take it with you," said the director of midwifery

A midwifery team that gave bereaved parents a “lifeline” has won an award.

The Hinchingbrooke Hospital team in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, received an outstanding achievement award ahead of International Day of the Midwife.

Lisa Normanton said they “made such a terrible tragedy slightly more bearable” after the news that her unborn granddaughter’s heart had stopped beating.

She said she nominated the team for the high level of care, privacy, and compassion that her son and daughter-in-law were given.

Ruby's sister Poppy was given a teddy bear

Ms Normanton’s daughter-in-law, Rachel, went to hospital to “put her mind at ease” after she experienced reduced movements from her 29-week unborn baby, Ruby.

“She didn’t expect anything to come of it, but their world changed because they were told Ruby’s heart had stopped,” she said.

They had a dedicated midwife who talked them through the next steps and a surgeon who told the pair Ruby would be treated with respect and care.

Rachel had a Caesarean delivery.

After the operation, Ruby was dressed, photos were taken and a memory box was made for the family.

“She looked just like her sister,” said Ms Normanton.

“We don’t know how the midwives do it when their job is to deliver live, but they made such a terrible tragedy slightly more bearable. They put so much thought and care into it.”

'A lifeline'

Trinkets and two teddy bears were placed in Ruby’s cot. One bear was cremated with Ruby and the other went to her three-year-old sister, Poppy.

“Poppy was told Ruby had sent her the teddy and she just clung onto it," the grandmother said.

“Now when mummy cries or is upset, she runs to get the teddy it and sits with her, it has been a lifeline.

“The midwives called every day for counselling and stayed in touch to help, it is not just about the babies for them, it is about the experience for the mother.”

Mellissa Davis hoped to get more people interested in being a part of the midwifery team

Melissa Davis, director of midwifery at North West Anglia Foundation Trust, said that the midwifery team provided support to bereaved families and to the midwives who were also impacted.

“It doesn’t just stop at the end of the day, when you go home you take it with you,” she said.

“It is a difficult job, whatever role you do. There are lots of different pressures but the thing that bonds us all together is that shared collective vision for wanting to provide the best possible service for women, it wouldn’t work without all of us.

“It is a difficult time for maternity services so this nomination is really special for the team, and specially mentioned Freya and Abi to know they made the experience the best they could in such a bad situation.”

Some of the bereavement services available were made possible through charity partnerships.

“People come into midwifery from so many different paths, it is such an amazing career to be in and something like this really demonstrates the difference midwives make and how pivotal we are to services," Ms Davis added.

“I hope people see this and are interested in being a part of a team like the one we have here.”