A new clinic has been launched at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary Women’s Unit to provide support and ongoing bereavement care to families who are pregnant again after losing a baby at or around the first few days of birth.

The service aims to provide grieving parents with support and antenatal care in what will be a stressful and anxious new pregnancy. The team within the clinic consists of a consultant obstetrician and two bereavement midwives, who plan individualised care for that family away from the busy antenatal clinics. This offers a safe space to talk around what has happened previously whilst providing antenatal care.

Bereavement midwives Celia Sykes and Becky Bleackley said, “We have been working so hard to get the clinic off the ground, and we are so grateful to every single person who has supported us in making it a reality.

“Having a clinic here in Morecambe Bay also means that expectant mothers who have been through a late miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death can access a higher level of support within the clinic throughout their pregnancy, rather than having to travel long distances to reach their nearest clinic.”

The Rainbow Clinic has been funded entirely by charity, with the most recent donation of £3,068.27 coming from fundraisers Dan Flynn and Sammy Donohue, a local couple who last year led a team of 25 to take on Born Survivor, a military obstacle course challenge at Lowther Castle.

Dan and Sammy run a personal training studio in Lancaster, which has been invaluable in bringing people together for the challenge. Dan said, “As soon as we heard about the Rainbow Clinic we knew that we really wanted to make a difference. We are planning to continue our fundraising for as long as we can and will be putting together another team for Born Survivor this year, hopefully with even more people taking part.”

Bay Hospitals Charity is a registered charity which raises money to improve patient care and the hospital and community experience across University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust. By donating to Bay Hospitals Charity you can fund the latest equipment and help make your local hospitals more comfortable, ensuring you and your loved ones get the best possible care and treatment.