Rotorua Hospital baby bereavement room weeks away

Ashleigh French lost a child at birth. Photo/Andrew Warner

A space where families can grieve the loss of a newborn is to be added at Rotorua Hospital.

The driving force behind Rotorua's Bereavement Room, Ashleigh French, has been working behind the scenes since 2012, to make things a little easier for families suffering the loss of an infant.

With the help of her mother Sharron French and sister Anna French, Ashleigh set up the One More Cuddle Facebook page following the loss of her daughter Luka in 2012.

Ashleigh French. Photo/Andrew Warner

One More Cuddle initially raised funds for a Cuddlecot, a cooling system that fits inside a bassinet or a cot to keep baby cool, allowing parents to keep the baby for that little bit longer.

Once the cot had been installed at the hospital, Ashleigh said she started thinking out loud about having a special room as part of Rotorua's birthing unit, just for families dealing with the loss of a baby.

"During my time at the hospital with Luka there were things that weren't nice," Ashleigh said. "I just wanted to help make other people's not-so-nice experience a little nicer."

Ashleigh French. Photo/Andrew Warner

She said she knew of at least two New Zealand hospitals that had special rooms and talked about the idea with one of the Rotorua Hospital midwives.

"It was my mum and my sister who really pushed me along so I got back in touch with the midwife and asked her to help me."

As part of Rotorua Hospital's renovations, a former clinic room and storage room will be joined to create the One More Cuddle bereavement room. Renovation has started at the hospital and it is hoped the bereavement room will be completed in about six weeks.

"It's taken us almost a year to raise $9000 of a $10,000 target. Now I have to turn my head to decorating the space."

She said she had received colour advice from a photographer specialising in taking photos of stillborn babies and from people who follow the Facebook page.

The bereavement room will be just off the birthing unit, meaning grieving families won't have to be in the same space as families celebrating a healthy birth.

"It will allow the family some time in a private and comfortable setting."