Honeysuckle Bereavement Leaflets

The leaflet is detailed below, or you can download the 'Honeysuckle Team - General Patient Information Leaflet' leaflet in PDF.

The Honeysuckle Team are the dedicated baby bereavement team at Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust. The team consists of 2 bereavement support midwives, Marie Kelleher and Pauline McBurnie, and a bereavement support admin officer, Sarah Martin.

The Team’s office is open Monday – Friday 8am-4pm, you are welcome to contact them either by phone 0151 702 4151 or email honeysuckle@lwh.nhs.uk

The Honeysuckle team are very sorry for your loss, we do not wish to be intrusive at this sad time but we would like you to know that we are here to offer support and advice where we can.

We can offer you and your family practical advice and information, help explain some of the formalities involved and guide you through the choices you may face during this difficult time.

Although we do not offer formal counselling we are here if you wish to talk as it may be helpful to talk with someone outside of the family setting. We can provide you with contact details for outside agencies that specialise in bereavement counselling in your local area.

The Honeysuckle Team run a monthly support group for parents and grandparents, with guest speakers, a library of books, craft table and refreshments provided.

Please visit Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust website Honeysuckle Bereavement Service - Liverpool Womens NHS Foundation Trust for up to date information regarding support group sessions.  

The Honeysuckle Team are active on social media. We have our own Facebook page Honeysuckle Bond and two private closed Facebook pages one for families and one for Dads who have suffered the loss of a baby.  To join one of the private groups, request to join Honeysuckle Community Page or Honeysuckle Dads Group.

The Honeysuckle Team arranges an annual remembrance service in October during Baby Loss Awareness Week https://babyloss-awareness.org/  for all families to remember their babies. We will publish details of our service on Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust website and social media pages.

Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust has a special remembrance garden located in the courtyard behind main reception. Within the garden there is a metal love lock tree where families have placed special locks in memory of a loved one. If you would like to order a lock please visit Ladybugs Picnic Wirral

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/LadybugsPicnicWirral  

Contact Details for Honeysuckle Team

 

marie.kelleher@lwh.nhs.uk – 0151 702 4151

 

pauline.mcburnie@lwh.nhs.uk – 0151 702 4151

 

sarah.martin@lwh.nhs.uk – 0151 702 4151

 

Facebook – search Honeysuckle Bond or request to join our closed groups Honeysuckle Closed Community Group or Honeysuckle Dads Group.

 

Twitter - @honeysucklelwh

 

Helpful organisations

Antenatal Results and Choices ( ARC ) – Offers information and support for parents making decisions around antenatal testing, including when a baby has a significant anomaly. https://www.arc-uk.org/  

Liverpool Bereavement Services – provides counselling support in Liverpool for all gestations – 0151 236 3932

 

Love Jasmine – provides counselling support in Liverpool for over 22 weeks gestation –  0151 459 4779 /
enquiries@lovejasmine.org.uk

 

Child Bereavement UK 0800 028 8840

 

Child Death Helpline 0800 282 986 / 0808 800 6019

 

Children of Jannah 0161 480 5156

 

The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust 020 7733 2653

ept@ectopic.org.uk

 

The Miscarriage Association 01924 200 799

info@miscarriageassociation.org.uk

 

Muslim Bereavement Support Service 020 3468 7333

info@mbss.org.uk

 

SANDs

Stillbirth and Neonatal Death charity 020 7436 5881

helpline@uk-sands.org

 

SPACE is a Liverpool-based network that offers peer support to women who have experienced miscarriage or infertility – either recently, or at any time in the past. 

 

The network was started up by a small group of friends who met during their own miscarriage and fertility journeys, and felt inspired to create a local support space for other women facing similar struggles. The network is open to any woman in the Merseyside area who would like to connect with other women for peer support.  

• Small group support - a monthly online drop-in evening (currently online) is held on the final Thursday of each month for women affected by these issues to connect informally for a cuppa and chat  
• 1-2-1 peer support – an option for women who would rather chat to someone else with a similar story in a one-to-one setting, over a phone call/online chat, or face to face for a coffee or walk 
• Website support – online support including a private Facebook space, real stories from local women, and signposting to lots of other recommended resources and support such as helpful books, podcasts and other organisations.  

To find out more or to access the SPACE network, women can visit  www.thereisspaceforyouhere.com 

 

Or email the team directly at: thereisspaceforyouhere@gmail.com 

 

TAMBA

Twin and Multiple Birth Association

0800 138 0509

asktwinline@tamba.org.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The leaflet is detailed below, or you can download the 'Lactation after Loss' leaflet in PDF.

We are very sorry that your baby has sadly died. Some mums and lactating parents find producing breastmilk very painful as it reminds them of their loss. They want to stop their milk production as quickly as possible. Others find making and expressing their milk comforting. There is no right or wrong way to feel, or decision to make. This leaflet explains the options that you have, and your healthcare team can support you to make the best decision for you and answer any questions that you may have.

Natural Milk Production

The amount of milk produced in the breast will vary from person to person and will reduce naturally over a period. If breastfeeding has already been established, your breasts may continue to produce milk for some time.

It is extremely important not to abruptly stop the production of milk if breastfeeding has already been established, as this may increase the risk of severe breast engorgement and mastitis.

Engorgement

Engorgement is when the breasts become swollen, firm, and painful. It can happen between 2-5 days after the death of your baby. Your breasts can leak milk and feel uncomfortable for up to 7-14 days. This can settle on its own. If severely engorged, your breasts can become hard, shiny, warm, and slightly lumpy to touch. Breast engorgement actually helps to suppress the production of breast milk. However, painful breast engorgement is not necessary and can be avoided.

Relieving Symptoms of Engorgement

There are a variety of methods that can be used to reduce milk production including prescribed medication and a milk reduction routine. These are a few suggestions to help relieve engorgement.

• Take regular pain relief.
• Wear a support bra e.g. a sports bra day and night.
• Use breast pads to absorb leaking milk.
• Use cold compresses for 15-20 minutes – avoid heat.
• If your breasts feel very full, hand express a small amount off for comfort.
• Have a warm bath or shower to allow the breasts to leak naturally (ensure shower water jets are not directly on the breasts)
• Sleep on your back.

Mastitis

Mastitis is inflammation of the breast, which, if left untreated, can develop into a more serious infection. Symptoms include:

• red, swollen area on the breast that is hot and painful to touch.
• breast lump or area of hardness on the breast
• white or blood-stained nipple discharge
• flu-like symptoms including fatigue, chills, fever.

If you display any of these symptoms it is recommended that you contact your midwife, health visitor or GP as antibiotic treatment may be required.

If You Need to Hand Express

To hand express, hold your breast with your fingers a few inches back from the areola (the dark part around the nipple). Push your hand back toward the chest wall, and then roll your fingers forward toward the nipple, taking care not to slide your fingers over the skin.

Reducing Your Milk Supply

If you were expressing regularly for a premature or ill baby, you will need to gradually reduce the amount of breast milk produced. This can be done through increasing the time between hand expressing, over a few days and eventually coming to a stop. If you are unable to find relief using hand expressing a pump can be used, however only spend as long on the pump as it takes to reduce the pressure in your breasts; emptying your breasts will encourage your body to produce more milk.

Medication

Cabergoline (Dostinex) suppresses milk production by blocking the hormone that is secreted to produce milk. It should be used alongside a milk reduction routine. The dose of Cabergoline is 0.25 mg twice a day for two days if breastfeeding is established, or 1mg in a single dose if breastfeeding has not yet been established.  Your neonatal nurse, midwife or GP will be able to arrange this for you.

What can I do with milk that I have already expressed?

There are different options available if you have milk that you have already expressed, and you may wish to do one or a combination of these.

• Donating your milk to a milk bank for recipient or research donation
• Keeping a container of milk for a keepsake
• Using some of your milk to be turned into a keepsake for example breastmilk jewellery. (You can find details of companies online who make these for a fee)
• You may not want to keep or donate your milk, and you can ask the hospital to dispose of the milk safely on your behalf.

The Funeral

Around the time of your baby’s funeral is going to be highly emotional. This unfortunately can affect your milk production and you may experience engorgement even though you thought things were settling down. If possible, sit down and support your breasts with your arm. Let people know not to hug you too hard if your breasts are painful.

Continuing to express for donation

Some parents find that expressing milk for donation can be comforting. Parental grief is very complex and personal, and this may not be a choice for everyone. If you decide that you want to keep on expressing, you may wish to consider milk donation.  Your nurse/midwife will be able to give you more information if you feel as though this is a choice that you would like to make. 

Local Support

It is important that you are supported through your bereavement. The hospital has a dedicated bereavement team called The Honeysuckle Team. Please contact the team on 0151 702 4151 / email honeysuckle@lwh.nhs.uk  or search Honeysuckle Team on Facebook.

Support

Helpful organisations:

 

 

 

The leaflet is detailed below, or you can download the 'Post Mortem Examination – Local Information for Families' leaflet in PDF.

The Honeysuckle Team are the dedicated baby bereavement team at Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust. We are very sorry for your loss and would like you to know that we are here to offer support and advice where we can.

There are 2 bereavement support midwives within the team: Marie Kelleher and Pauline McBurnie; please contact them should you have further questions. The Team’s office is open Monday–Friday 8am-4pm, you are welcome to contact them either by phone 0151 702 4151 or email.

honeysuckle@lwh.nhs.uk   

The Honeysuckle Team have devised this leaflet to provide you with local information in regard to post mortem (PM) examination for babies.

What is a post mortem?

A post mortem (also called an autopsy or PM) is the medical examination to help understand any factors that might have contributed to a baby’s death.

Unless it has been ordered by a coroner a post mortem examination cannot be done without parental consent. Post mortems on babies are undertaken by specialist doctors, known as a paediatric or perinatal pathologist.

In order for you to consent to a PM you also need to read SANDS Bereavement Support Book– there is a section called understanding why your baby died. This section provides information regarding PM - enabling parents to make an informed choice. If you have not been given the booklet and would like a copy please advise the midwife, nurse or doctor caring for you or you may wish to access this information using the following ink:

https://www.sands.org.uk/sites/default/files/Sands%20-%20Understanding%20why%20your%20baby%20died.pdf or via the SANDS Bereavement Support App.

Once you have agreed to a PM – The doctor, nurse or midwife trained in PM consent will discuss this further and complete a consent form with you.

If you have consented to PM your baby will come into the care of The Honeysuckle Team.

Where will the post mortem take place?

The post mortem examination will be carried out at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital (AHCH). The Honeysuckle Team will facilitate the transfer of your baby to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital using their dedicated driver. Please know your baby will be treated with the utmost care and respect while in the care of The Honeysuckle Team and the pathology team at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

Once the examination has been completed, your baby can be collected by your nominated funeral director or transferred back to the care of The Honeysuckle Team at Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust (LWH) by the driver.

The Honeysuckle Team will keep you up to date of your baby’s journey should you wish to know.

How long do parents have to wait until baby’s body is released?

A baby whose parent has consented to PM would usually be transferred to AHCH and returned to LWH within 4 working days. The Honeysuckle Team will inform you when your baby has left and returned into our care should you wish to be informed.

When will I receive the results?

The results from the examination usually take up to 16 weeks to come through from Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

Once the results are received an appointment will be made for you to meet with your consultant to discuss the results.

If your baby died on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), an appointment will be made for you to meet with a Neonatal consultant. If your baby was born at Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust, your obstetric consultant may also attend the appointment.

Your follow up appointment will likely take place within The Honeysuckle Team’s office, on the ground floor of Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust – a letter will be sent out to you to confirm the appointment details.

 

 

The leaflet is detailed below, or you can download 'Care and Support for Baby Loss under 24 weeks' leaflet in PDF. 

Introduction

If your baby was stillborn from the 24th week of pregnancy or born alive and then sadly died please read leaflet 

https://www.liverpoolwomens.nhs.uk/media/5282/stillbirth-and-neonatal-death.pdf

The Honeysuckle Team are the dedicated baby bereavement team at Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust. The team consists of 2 bereavement specialist midwives, Marie Kelleher and Pauline McBurnie, and a bereavement support officer, Sarah Martin. We are very sorry for your loss; please accept our sincere condolences.

We have designed this booklet to ensure that you and your family are fully aware of the choices available, and the formalities involved at this difficult time.

The Honeysuckle Team offer practical advice and guidance as well as ongoing emotional support, you can contact the team via telephone and email 0151 702 4151 / honeysuckle@lwh.nhs.uk

Please see links to leaflets we recommend you read:

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists ‘When Your Baby Dies Before Birth’ https://www.rcog.org.uk/media/bdndy0sb/pi-when-your-baby-dies-before-birth.pdf

The Miscarriage Association ‘Second Trimester Loss: Late Miscarriage’ https://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Second-trimester-loss.pdf

Unsubscribe to Bounty communications.

If you are sadly affected by miscarriage or baby loss Bounty can update your details for you. Please email privacy@bounty.com  and they will update your membership details to ensure that you no longer receive any communications from them or their partners. 

SANDS bereavement support app is free to download on smart phone or tablet. This app offers guidance on various topics such as saying goodbye to your baby, examinations/testing, funeral arrangements and support for friends and family - including children.

Options for the care of pregnancy remains

When a baby is born before the 24th week of pregnancy and shows no signs of life, there is no legal requirement to have a funeral.

If your baby was stillborn from the 24th week of pregnancy or born alive and then sadly died, please read leaflet honeysuckle-leaflet-over-16-weeks-gestation.pdf  (liverpoolwomens.nhs.uk)

This information has been devised in accordance with Human Tissue Authority guidance. https://www.hta.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Guidance_on_the_disposal_of_pregnancy_re mains.pdf

There are 3 options that you can decide between to honour your baby:

Communal Cremation

With your consent The Honeysuckle Team organise a communal cremation.

A communal cremation is when 12 babies are cremated together at Springwood crematorium.

Following the cremation, the ashes are scattered in the baby garden of remembrance within the grounds of the crematorium.

Please note if you sign consent for communal cremation and wish to be provided with more information you must contact The Honeysuckle Team within 14 days.

Please be rest assured that your baby will be looked after and that the communal cremation is carried out in a dignified and respectful manner.

Baby Remembrance Garden, Springwood Crematorium, Springwood Avenue, Allerton, L25 7UN

Arranging burial or cremation via a funeral director

It is possible to arrange an individual burial or cremation for a pregnancy loss at any stage of pregnancy - if you wish to do this you will need to appoint a local funeral director.

The Honeysuckle Team are able to provide you with advice and guidance on arranging a funeral and can make initial contact with funeral directors on your behalf if you wish. Most funeral directors in the local area do not charge any fees when making arrangements for a baby or child’s funeral.

Please note if you sign consent to make arrangements with a funeral director you need to make your arrangements within 12 weeks. If you have not contacted a funeral director or The Honeysuckle Team within this time a communal cremation will take place in accordance with Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust procedures.

Taking pregnancy remains/baby home from the hospital

You can take your pregnancy remains/baby home with you to bury in a planter with flowers or a plant in the garden; this is a personal choice and there are no regulations to prevent you doing whatever feels right for you.

If you decide to do this, there are certain requirements that need to be met. It is advisable to think carefully about what you will do with your pregnancy remains/baby and consider any associated restrictions which might exist, for example in relation to burial on a home property. For further guidance please visit guidance-for-burials-on-private-land.pdf  (fdean.gov.uk)  The Environment Agency is also a good source of advice on this matter. Environment Agency - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

If you would like to discuss these options in more detail, please contact The Honeysuckle Team for support please call or email the team - 0151 702 4151 / honeysuckle@lwh.nhs.uk

If you do not make a decision or do not contact The Honeysuckle Team to confirm your decision the team will attempt to contact you. If the team are not able to reach you within 12 weeks they will make arrangements for communal cremation in accordance with Human Tissue Authority (HTA) guidance and local hospital procedure.

Please note when a pregnancy loss occurs under 12 weeks gestation and histopathology testing has been requested, if no fetal tissue is identified, Royal Liverpool University Hospital can make arrangements for respectful disposal of the remaining tissue according to their standard procedure.

When fetal tissue is identified microscopically, its presence is commented on within the pathology report, but as this is embedded in a paraffin block and part of the diagnostic record, this is not returned unless a patient specifically asks to have the blocks and slides returned. For more information regarding this please read leaflet ‘Experiencing a pregnancy loss under 12 weeks’ pregnancy-loss-under-12-weeks-gestation-leaflet.pdf (liverpoolwomens.nhs.uk)

Making Memories

The Honeysuckle Team are passionate about promoting positive memories for bereaved families.

Your nurse / midwife will support your choices for memory making. If your baby died before birth and had not completed 24 weeks of pregnancy (legally described as a miscarriage), their death cannot be officially registered. Acknowledgment of life certificates are available for anyone who experiences a pregnancy loss under 24 weeks. These are provided in the memory boxes. If this is something you would like please ask the nurse / midwife caring for you who can provide this, alternatively should you wish to make your own you can download a template from SANDS website www.sands.org.uk

Memory Box

Your nurse / midwife should offer you a memory box, if you have not been given one, please ask the staff looking after you. The box is a special place for keepsakes to remember your baby and pregnancy. This could include a scan picture, where possible, photographs, hand and foot prints, or any cards that you might receive. For babies born very early it may not always be possible to take hand and foot prints but you may still like to have a box for other memories. A memory box can help you acknowledge your grief and talk about your pregnancy / baby with family and friends.

Blessing

A short blessing or naming ceremony can be arranged with the hospital’s on call chaplaincy team who would usually provide this service. Ask your nurse or midwife to make contact with the chaplaincy team. If the chaplaincy team are not available another staff member at the hospital can conduct a blessing on their behalf – your nurse or midwife will support you with this. You may wish to record or stream this for family and friends to watch.

Memorial Book

There is a book of remembrance located in the chapel at LWH. If you would like your baby’s name to be added to the book please email our hospital chaplain Christine.dickinson@lwh.nhs.uk  with the following details of your baby: baby/babies name, the date that you delivered or the date your baby was born and the date baby died. Christine will then be able to place these into the book of remembrance.

Memorial Garden

There is a garden dedicated to our honeysuckle families. You are welcome to visit the garden at any time and can access from the main reception of the hospital.Within the garden there is a metal love lock tree. You may wish to purchase a padlock with your baby’s name or a small message inscribed to hang on the tree. If you would like to order a lock please visit Ladybugs Picnic Wirral - https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/LadybugsPicnicWirral

Naming Your Baby

Some parents decide to give their baby a name, as this gives them their own identity and can make it easy to talk about them. Some parents use a nickname they may have chosen during their pregnancy. You do not have to name your baby if this does not feel right for you.

Seeing and Holding Your Baby

Once your baby is born, you may begin to think about the choices you want to make, for example, you can think about whether you want to see and hold your baby. You might have already started thinking about these decisions in the time before you delivered. Your nurse or midwife will support you with this. If you are not sure about seeing your baby or anxious about how your baby will look you could ask your nurse or midwife to show you a photograph or ask them to describe your baby to you. If you would like to see your baby and this is not suggested, please ask the staff caring for you.

Hand and Footprints

For babies born very early it may not always be possible to take hand and footprints. When possible, your nurse or midwife will offer and if accepted will try to take ink prints of your baby’s hands and feet. You may choose to incorporate the prints into images, tattoos, and jewellery. You may want a few sets of these prints to give to family members who are not able to meet your baby.

Photographs

Your nurse or midwife will usually offer to take photos of your baby. You can also take your own photographs of your baby. Some parents like to have photographs of their baby’s hands and feet, others may also wish to have a photo of them holding their baby. Should you agree to photographs being taken but you do not wish to look at the photos, you can request for them to be given to you in a sealed envelope. You can then look at them at a later date if you wish, or you can give them to family members or friends. If you do not wish for photographs to be taken, then please inform the nurse / midwife caring for you.

Dressing Your Baby

You may want to dress your baby, or you could ask your nurse or midwife to assist you with this. We have suitable clothing, wraps, blankets and angel pouches for all gestations and your nurse / midwife can support you with your choices. If your baby’s condition makes dressing them difficult, you may want to wrap them in a blanket or something similar.

On-going keepsakes

 In addition to the keepsakes, you collect from your pregnancy or soon after you baby is born, there may be other things that form valuable keepsakes in the future. Among these things could include poems, letters, emails, cards and jewellery.

Support for you and your family

The Honeysuckle Team run a monthly support group for parents and grandparents, with guest speakers, a library of books, craft table and refreshments provided. The support group is facilitated by Honeysuckle Team’s bereavement specialist midwives Please check The Honeysuckle Team web page for up to date information about support group sessions Honeysuckle Bereavement Service - Liverpool Womens NHS Foundation Trust

The Honeysuckle Team run biweekly wellbeing and football sessions for men in partnership with LFC Foundation. The sessions are facilitated by Honeysuckle Team’s bereavement specialist midwives and LFC Foundation’s mental health coaches. Sessions take place at Leisure United – Jeffrey Humble, Long Lane, Aintree, L9 6AG. For more information, please contact honeysuckle@lwh.nhs.uk  

The Honeysuckle Team are active on social media. We have our own Facebook page Honeysuckle Bond and two private closed Facebook pages one for families and one for Dads who have suffered the loss of a baby.  To join one of the private groups, go onto our Facebook page and request to join Honeysuckle Community Page or Honeysuckle Dad’s Group.  If you request to join one of the private groups, please also send Honeysuckle Bond a direct message so the team can ensure you are added.

Joining social media groups can be a meaningful way of honouring your baby’s memory alongside other bereaved families and a helpful part of your grief journey. Sharing time with other families might help you feel less isolated in your grief.

Attending events

Attending remembrance events can be a meaningful way of honouring your baby's memory alongside other bereaved families and a helpful part of your grief journey. Sharing this time with other families might help you feel less isolated in your grief.

Baby Loss Awareness Week Baby Loss Awareness Week – Break the silence around baby loss (babyloss-awareness.org) is held every year between 9-15th October and ends with an international wave of light at 7pm on 15 October for parents to remember their baby at the same time as others across the world. It is during this week’s we usually hold Liverpool Women’s baby loss remembrance service. For up-to-date information on this years’ service please follow Liverpool Women’s on social media or via website Honeysuckle Bereavement Service - Liverpool Womens NHS Foundation Trust.

If you would like to be added to our mailing list please email your details to honeysuckle@lwh.nhs.uk and we can ensure you are invited and advised of all future events.

Should you wish to contact the team to discuss anything in this leaflet further, please contact us by telephone or email or if you are an inpatient and wish a face-to-face visit, please discuss this with your nurse or midwife who will contact the team on your behalf.    

There are lots of organisations The Honeysuckle Team work with who can offer you and your family support.

Child Bereavement UK is particularly helpful if you have children in your family and are concerned with speaking to them about what has happened. They have devised leaflets available on their website for help in talking to children about bereavement.

Helpful organisations:

Liverpool Bereavement Services – provides counselling support in Liverpool for under 20 weeks gestation 0151 236 3932 / https://liverpoolbereavement.com/  

Love Jasmine – provides counselling support in Liverpool for over 20 weeks gestation

0151 459 4779 / https://www.lovejasmine.org.uk/

Antenatal Results and Choices ( ARC ) – Offers information and support for parents making decisions around antenatal testing, including when a baby has a significant anomaly. https://www.arc-uk.org/   

Child Bereavement UK National organisation providing support to families when a baby or child has died and offers support for children faced with bereavement.

0800 028 8840 /   https://www.childbereavementuk.org/   

Children of Jannah – Organisation providing support to Muslim families after the loss of a baby or child  https://childrenofjannah.com/how-we-can-help/

The Compassionate Friends – Organisation of bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents that offer support to other after the death of a child. www.tcf.org.uk  

The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust – Provides support and information for people who have had or been affected by an ectopic pregnancy. 020 7733 2653 / https://ectopic.org.uk/

Fertility Network UK – Provides support to people dealing with infertility and/or who are facing involuntary childlessness. www.fertilitynetworkuk.org  

The Miscarriage Association – National organisation offering support and information for individuals affected by pregnancy loss. 01924 200 799 / https://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/

Multiple Births Foundation ( MBF ) – Provides support and information for multiple birth families, including bereavement support. www.multiplebirths.org.uk

Muslim Bereavement Support Service – Provides support and information to Muslim families following a bereavement 020 3468 7333 / http://mbss.org.uk/

Sakoon – Provides an Islamic perspective in counselling for Muslims  Islamic counselling, Muslim counselling - Incorporate Islam in Counselling (sakoon.co.uk)

Samaritans – Offers confidential support, available 24 hours a day to people who need to talk.

Telephone 116 123 / https://www.samaritans.org/

SANDs – Provides support and information for anyone affected by the death of a baby, before or after birth.

020 7436 5881 / https://www.sands.org.uk/

Twins Trust – offers support to families who have lost one or more children from a multiple birth.

Twins Trust | Bereavement Service /  bereavementsupport@twinstrust.org

 

 

 

 

 

The leaflet is detailed below, or you can download the 'Experiencing a pregnancy loss under 12 weeks Gestation' leaflet in PDF.

This leaflet explains your option for histopathology testing of the baby / pregnancy remains after early miscarriage (up to 12 weeks’ gestation).

If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to discuss with the health professional looking after you or a member of the Gynaecology Emergency Department (24hr number)  0151 702 4438 or The Honeysuckle Bereavement Team:  0151 702 4151 Mon-Fri:  8am-4pm Email : honeysuckle@lwh.nhs.uk

Introduction

The Honeysuckle Team are the dedicated baby bereavement team at Liverpool Women’s Hospital.  We are very sorry you have experienced a miscarriage. We understand that this will be a difficult time for you to make decisions and we hope that the following information will be of help. 

We would like to assure you that The Honeysuckle Team ensure that all babies and the remains of pregnancies are treated with care and respect.

You have been asked to consider giving verbal consent to Histopathological examination of your pregnancy loss.  This information together with the discussions that you will have with the health professionals caring for you will assist you in making the choices that you feel are right for you.

Genetic testing on the pregnancy remains will only be offered if there was a known fetal abnormality or if this is your third or more miscarriage, which is in keeping with national guidelines.

What is Histopathology testing and why is it recommended?

Histopathology is the microscopic examination of the appearance of cells and tissues in very fine detail to exclude any abnormalities.

Histopathology testing is advisable although not compulsory.

We need to examine your pregnancy remains/baby to exclude a rare condition called Molar Pregnancy (Gestational Trophoblast Disease). This is a condition where pregnancy and placental tissue develop abnormally and this can be the cause for your miscarriage - the testing does not give reasons why a miscarriage has occurred nor will it determine the gender of the baby.

There are two types of Molar Pregnancy:

1. A complete mole, where there's a mass of abnormal cells in the womb and no foetus develops or
2. A partial mole, where an abnormal foetus starts to form, but it cannot survive.

Molar Pregnancies can cause the pregnancy hormone in your body to be very high and you may still feel pregnant. If Molar Pregnancy is diagnosed when your pregnancy tissue is examined it allows staff to give you the most appropriate treatment and follow up care in future pregnancies.

Molar pregnancy is a very rare condition and we will only contact you if the examination identifies this condition, or if anything else is found that might affect you.

If you have opted for surgical management of your miscarriage we recommend sending the pregnancy remains for testing. If you have opted for medical management of your miscarriage the health professionals caring for you will check any remains you pass and discuss if they think histopathology testing is advisable with you.

The examination is carried out in the Histopathology Department at The Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

Does this Examination have to be Performed?

It is your decision whether or not to allow this examination. 

Please be aware that results from histopathology examination rarely identify a cause for your miscarriage. We do not routinely contact you with the results unless they are abnormal and results can take up to 3 months to come through.

After histopathology examination

When fetal tissue is identified microscopically, its presence is commented within the pathology report, but as this is embedded in a paraffin block and is part of the diagnostic record, this is not returned unless a patient specifically asks to have the blocks and slides returned.

If no fetal tissue is identified Royal Liverpool University Hospital can make arrangements for respectful disposal of the remaining tissue according to their standard procedure.

When fetal tissue is identified during the examination this is returned to Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust.  The Honeysuckle Team will ensure your pregnancy remains are cared for in accordance with your wishes recorded on the care of pregnancy remains consent form.

Should you wish to discuss the care of your pregnancy remains in further detail please contact The Honeysuckle Team.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The leaflet is detailed below, or you can download 'Care and Support following Stillbirth and neonatal death' leaflet in PDF. 

Introduction

The Honeysuckle Team are the dedicated baby bereavement team at Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust. The team consists of 2 bereavement specialist midwives, Marie Kelleher and Pauline McBurnie, and a bereavement support officer, Sarah Martin. We are very sorry for your loss; please accept our sincere condolences.

We have designed this booklet to ensure that you and your family are fully aware of the choices available and the formalities involved at this difficult time.

The Honeysuckle Team offer practical advice and guidance as well as ongoing emotional support, you can contact the team via telephone and email 0151 702 4151 / honeysuckle@lwh.nhs.uk

SANDS bereavement support app is free to download on smart phone or tablet. This app offers guidance on various topics such as saying goodbye to your baby, examinations/testing, funeral arrangements and support for friends and family - including children.

Making Memories

The Honeysuckle Team are passionate about promoting positive memories for bereaved families.

When a baby dies, there are few happy memories to help the grief that parents and other family members experience. This section discusses various ways in which you can make memories of the time that you had together and honour the memory of your baby. Your nurse / midwife will support your choices for memory making.

Memory Box

Your nurse / midwife should offer you a memory box, should you not be given one please ask staff. Memory boxes can help capture the time you had with you baby. The box is a special place for keepsakes to remember your baby by. This could include a scan picture, photographs, hand and foot prints, a lock of hair or any cards that you might receive. It may not always be possible to take hand and foot prints or have a lock of hair, but you may still like to have a box for other memories. A memory box can help you acknowledge your grief and talk about your pregnancy and your baby with family and friends.

Blessing

A short blessing or naming ceremony can be arranged with the hospital’s on call chaplaincy team who would usually provide this service. Ask your nurse or midwife to make contact with the chaplaincy team. If the chaplaincy team are not available another staff member at the hospital can conduct a blessing on their behalf – your nurse or midwife will support you with this. You may wish to record or stream this for family and friends to watch.

Memorial Book

There is a book of remembrance located in the chapel at LWH. If you would like your baby’s name to be added to the book please email our hospital chaplain Christine.dickinson@lwh.nhs.uk with the following details of your baby: baby/babies name, the date that you delivered or the date your baby was born and the date baby died. Christine will then be able to place these into the book of remembrance.

Memorial Garden

There is a garden dedicated to our honeysuckle families. You are welcome to visit the garden at any time and can access from the main reception of the hospital. Within the garden there is a metal love lock tree. You may wish to purchase a padlock with your baby’s name or a small message inscribed to hang on the tree. If you would like to order a lock please visit Ladybugs Picnic Wirral - https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/LadybugsPicnicWirral  

Naming Your Baby

Some parents decide to give their baby a name, as this gives them their own identity and can make it easy to talk about them. Some parents use a nickname they may have chosen during their pregnancy. It can sometimes be hard to determine their gender and you might like to choose a name that fits either gender. You do not have to name your baby if this does not feel right for you.

Seeing and Holding Your Baby

You may be anxious about whether you want to see and hold your baby. Your nurse or midwife will support you with this. If you are not sure about seeing your baby or anxious about how your baby will look you could ask your nurse or midwife to show you a photograph or ask them to describe your baby to you. If you would like to see your baby and this is not suggested, please ask the staff caring for you.

Hand and Footprints

When possible, your nurse or midwife will offer and if accepted will try to take ink prints of your baby’s hands and feet. You may choose to incorporate the prints into images, tattoos and jewellery. You may want a few sets of these prints to give to family members who are not able to meet your baby.

Photographs

Your nurse or midwife will usually offer to take photos of your baby. You can also take your own photographs of your baby. Some parents like to have photographs of their baby’s hands and feet, others may also wish to have a photo of them holding their baby.

Should you agree to photographs being taken but you do not wish to look at the photos you can request for them to be given to you in a sealed envelope. You can then look at them at a later date if you wish, or you can give them to family members or friends.  If you do not wish for photographs to be taken, then please inform the nurse / midwife caring for you.

Washing and Dressing Your Baby

You may want to wash and dress your baby, or you could ask your nurse or midwife to assist you with this.  You could bring something from home for your baby to wear; alternatively the hospital can provide clothing for your baby. If your baby’s condition makes dressing them difficult, you may want to wrap them in a blanket or something similar.

We have suitable clothing, wraps, blankets and angel pouches and your nurse / midwife can support you with your choices.

Hospice care

For babies who were born alive and then passed away or who are stillborn local hospices such as Claire House  Family Support | Support and Activities | Claire House Children's Hospice and Zoe’s Place Bereavement Support - Welcome to Zoё's Place Baby Hospice (zoes-place.org.uk) can provide support to families if facilities are available. They have bereavement suites where you are able to take your baby and stay with them for a few days. If you would like your nurse or midwife to make enquiries about this, please ask them.

On-going keepsakes

In addition to the keepsakes, you collect from your pregnancy or soon after you baby is born, there may be other things that form valuable keepsakes in the future. Among these things could include poems, letters, emails, cards and jewellery.

Registration

If your baby was born alive and then passed away or was stillborn at 24 weeks or later, you are legally required to register this with the local registrar of births and deaths.

In the case of a stillbirth the midwife or doctor will complete a medical certificate of stillbirth.

In the case of a neonatal death the doctor will complete a medical certificate of death.

The required documentation to register a stillbirth / death will be stored in your medical notes. The Honeysuckle team will collect this and will liaise with Liverpool Registry Office to make arrangements for the registration. Please ensure when you leave the hospital that you have provided us with your preferred contact number.

The Honeysuckle Team will call and advise you of the date and time of your registration.

Registration appointments take place at Liverpool Registry Office, St George’s Hall, St George’s Place, Liverpool, L1 1JJ. If you are not contacted to conduct the appointment within 5 working days please liaise with Liverpool Registry Office via Liverpool City Council website - https://liverpool.gov.uk/births-marriage-deaths/deaths/register-a-death/     

When attending for your appointment use the visitor centre entrance on St George’s Place – this is near The Marriott Hotel and Queens Square Bus Station.

There are 3 car parks within close proximity to St George’s Hall:

Lime Street Station Long Stay, Lord Nelson Street, L3 5QB

St John’s Shopping Centre, St George’s Place, L1 1LQ

Queen Square, Whitechapel, L1 1RH

St George’s Hall is near Lime Street Train Station and Queen Square Bus Station - Merseytravel | Liverpool City Region Travel Information

Funeral choices

If your baby was stillborn at 24 weeks or later, or died after birth, you are legally required to have a burial or cremation for them.

The Honeysuckle Team are here to guide you through this process and can make initial contact with a funeral director on your family’s behalf. Most funeral directors in the local area do not charge for a baby or child’s funeral – the funeral director will confirm with you if there are any fees to pay.

Once arrangements have been made the funeral director will contact The Honeysuckle Team to make arrangements for bringing your baby into their care.

Should you wish to take your baby home prior to the funeral taking place you must ensure the funeral director is aware so they can offer you support at home.

If they are able to assist with your request the nurse or midwife caring for you will complete your discharge and ensure you are provided with a letter to confirm you have chosen to take your baby home. This letter will provide details of who to contact at Liverpool Women’s’ Hospital should you have any concerns. Should you opt to take your baby home and wish for a cremation the documentation for cremation will be given to you to pass onto the funeral directors.

Support for you and your family

The Honeysuckle Team run a monthly support group for parents and grandparents, with guest speakers, a library of books, craft table and refreshments provided. The support group is facilitated by Honeysuckle Team’s bereavement specialist midwives Please check The Honeysuckle Team web page for up to date information about support group sessions Honeysuckle Bereavement Service - Liverpool Womens NHS Foundation Trust

The Honeysuckle Team run biweekly wellbeing and football sessions for men in partnership with LFC Foundation. The sessions are facilitated by Honeysuckle Team’s bereavement specialist midwives and LFC Foundation’s mental health coaches. Sessions take place at Leisure United – Jeffrey Humble, Long Lane, Aintree, L9 6AG. For more information please contact honeysuckle@lwh.nhs.uk  

The Honeysuckle Team are active on social media. We have our own Facebook page Honeysuckle Bond and two private closed Facebook pages one for families and one for Dads who have suffered the loss of a baby.  To join one of the private groups, go onto our Facebook page and request to join Honeysuckle Community Page or Honeysuckle Dad’s Group.  If you request to join one of the private groups please also send Honeysuckle Bond a direct message so the team can ensure you are added.

Joining social media groups can be a meaningful way of honouring your baby’s memory alongside other bereaved families and a helpful part of your grief journey. Sharing time with other families might help you feel less isolated in your grief.

Attending events

Attending remembrance events can be a meaningful way of honouring your baby's memory alongside other bereaved families and a helpful part of your grief journey. Sharing this time with other families might help you feel less isolated in your grief.

Baby Loss Awareness Week Baby Loss Awareness Week – Break the silence around baby loss (babyloss-awareness.org) is held every year between 9-15th October and ends with an international wave of light at 7pm on 15 October for parents to remember their baby at the same time as others across the world. It is during this week’s we usually hold Liverpool Women’s baby loss remembrance service. For up-to-date information on this years’ service please follow Liverpool Women’s on social media or via website Honeysuckle Bereavement Service - Liverpool Womens NHS Foundation Trust

If you would like to be added to our mailing list please email your details to honeysuckle@lwh.nhs.uk  and we can ensure you are invited and advised of all future events.

Should you wish to contact the team to discuss anything in this leaflet further, please contact us by telephone or email or if you are an inpatient and wish a face-to-face visit please discuss this with your nurse or midwife who will contact the team on your behalf.     

There are lots of organisations that The Honeysuckle Team work with who can offer you and your family support.

However organisations can still be contacted via telephone or online.

Child Bereavement UK is particularly helpful if you have children in your family and are concerned with speaking to them about what has happened. They have devised leaflets available on their website for help in talking to children about bereavement.

Helpful organisations:

Liverpool Bereavement Services – provides counselling support in Liverpool for under 20 weeks gestation 0151 236 3932 / https://liverpoolbereavement.com/  

Love Jasmine – provides counselling support in Liverpool for over 20 weeks gestation

0151 459 4779 / https://www.lovejasmine.org.uk/  

Antenatal Results and Choices (ARC) – Offers information and support for parents making decisions around antenatal testing, including when a baby has a significant anomaly. https://www.arc-uk.org/   

Child Bereavement UK National organisation providing support to families when a baby or child has died and offers support for children faced with bereavement.

0800 028 8840 /   https://www.childbereavementuk.org/   

Children of Jannah – Organisation providing support to Muslim families after the loss of a baby or child  https://childrenofjannah.com/how-we-can-help/

The Compassionate Friends – Organisation of bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents that offer support to other after the death of a child. www.tcf.org.uk  

The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust – Provides support and information for people who have had or been affected by an ectopic pregnancy. 020 7733 2653 / https://ectopic.org.uk/

Fertility Network UK – Provides support to people dealing with infertility and/or who are facing involuntary childlessness. www.fertilitynetworkuk.org  

The Miscarriage Association – National organisation offering support and information for individuals affected by pregnancy loss. 01924 200 799 / https://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/

Multiple Births Foundation ( MBF ) – Provides support and information for multiple birth families, including bereavement support. www.multiplebirths.org.uk

Muslim Bereavement Support Service – Provides support and information to Muslim families following a bereavement 020 3468 7333 / http://mbss.org.uk/

Sakoon – Provides an Islamic perspective in counselling for Muslims Islamic counselling, Muslim counselling - Incorporate Islam in Counselling (sakoon.co.uk)

Samaritans – Offers confidential support, available 24 hours a day to people who need to talk.

Telephone 116 123 / https://www.samaritans.org/

SANDs – Provides support and information for anyone affected by the death of a baby, before or after birth.

020 7436 5881 / https://www.sands.org.uk/

Twins Trust – offers support to families who have lost one or more children from a multiple birth.

https://twinstrust.org/bereavement.html    /  bereavementsupport@twinstrust.org