A couple fundraising to pay for better care for the families of babies who are stillborn have had their plans for a new hospital suite approved.
The Forever Stars charity was founded by Michelle and Richard Daniels following the tragic loss of their baby daughter Emily, who was stillborn in 2013.
The couple from Chilwell were cared for at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham.
Although they described hospital staff as “fantastic” they launched a campaign to pay for a separate bereavement suite at the hospital for the parents of stillborn babies.
Michelle said: “It was traumatic to be put back onto a maternity ward with mothers, we needed to be somewhere more private.”
By 2014 the charity had raised £50,000 for the project, and by April 2015, a few months after Michelle gave birth to her son Finlay, they managed to reach £100,000.
Hopefully we can start work in February
The new facility will provide a separate space where still born babies can be delivered and an area where family members can sleep over.
It will also give them a chance to be alone with the baby to provide more time and privacy.
Michelle said: “We identified rooms at the hospital that we can use before Christmas, and we have more or less finalised most of the design work.
“We are meeting [hospital management] again soon to talk about costings, and hopefully we will be able to start work in February.”
The plans include a labour suite room for people who know in advance through scans that they are going to have a stillborn baby.
When they are ready they will then be transferred to a postnatal room.
Other features which Michelle and Richard have proposed are extra seating for family and small children, a roof garden, and features such as art on the walls to make the room look less clinical.
The Daniels believe it is important couples have their own space when going through the grieving process after hearing the sounds of other women giving birth and celebrating after the loss of their baby Emily.
Michelle said: “It has been hard work but it is all worth it, people have been so generous with time and money.”
Alison Atkinson, head of midwifery for Nottingham University Hospitals Trust, said: “Richard and Michelle are an inspirational couple who have achieved exceptional things over the last year through their hard work and determination. The new facilities are due to open at the end of April.
“We are immensely grateful to Richard and Michelle, who have become close friends of the hospital, for their inspirational fundraising efforts that will make a such a difference to so many bereaved patients and families during the most difficult time.”
More informaiton on the charity is available on the Forever Stars website.
