The Rosie bereavement team is comprised of maternity support workers, midwives and obstetricians.
The Rosie maternity service recognised the huge long term emotional impact pregnancy loss at any gestation has on families. The Rosie service provides support for all families experiencing a loss from 13 weeks gestation until the funeral. This involves liaising with the following stakeholders all of whom contribute to this package of care. The Trust’s contracted funeral directors, Arbury Burial site, chaplaincy and counselling services, Cambridge Crematorium, Cambridge Registers Office and in some cases the Coroner’s Office. We also engage with numerous charitable organisations that provide memory boxes, comfort bears and materials that complement the emotional support and practical care we give.
The team regularly reviews practice against the standards set out in SANDs guidelines and recently from the National Bereavement Pathway as well as feedback given from the service users in the Maternity Bereavement Patient Experience Questionnaire. The Rosie bereavement team is involved in the regional network of bereavement midwives this ensures our practice is informed by best practice.
Non-urgent advice: Baby loss certificate
The government has launched a voluntary scheme to allow parents to record and receive a certificate to provide recognition of baby loss before 24 weeks.
Certificates are issued free of charge and can only be obtained via the government website: https://www.gov.uk/request-baby-loss-certificate (opens in a new tab) (opens in a new tab)
Criteria to apply:
- You have experienced a loss under 24 weeks gestation since 1 September 2018*
- Are at least 16 years of age
- Were living in England at the time of the loss
- Currently live in England
- Are one of the baby’s parents or surrogate
* The scheme is starting with losses since 2018, any losses prior to 2018 will be available in time.