A mum has described 'tears of joy' after her relentless campaigning secured dedicated facilities for women experiencing baby loss at a Lanarkshire hospital.
Louise Caldwell, 38, endured the trauma of delivering her stillborn baby in a labour ward in Wishaw General in 2019 after a 12-week scan revealed the little one she was carrying didn’t have a heartbeat.
The loss endured by her and husband, Craig, as well as countless other women saw her start her campaign and launch a petition which secured over 30,000 signatures.
But at a meeting this week with representatives from NHS Lanarkshire, Louise was told, all going well, facilities for women who suffer pregnancy loss will be up and running by the end of October.
The suite will be away from the labour ward, although will be in the maternity unit for safety reasons and access to specialist medical care.
But the area will have its own entrance and plans also include two further rooms where women will have the choice for them and their families to spend their full journey.
Louise, from East Kilbride, previously described both her and Craig's heartache of being "met with newborn baby photos on walls, thank you cards, baby cries and proud partners" after losing their own little one.
The mum has also secured a promise of consultation with women who have suffered loss on how the units will take shape as well as much-needed support for partners, .who often feel helpless and may struggle to deal with their own grief.
Louise told Lanarkshire Live: "I burst in to tears when I was told about the dedicated suites for baby loss with an additional two rooms - I couldn't believe after two and a half years I had finally done it.
"It was surreal and I could finally feel a weight lifted off my shoulders."
"The suites will be life changing for future generations of women - the baby loss community has been neglected and ignored for too long. For a long time it felt like I was banging my head against a brick wall.
"No woman, woman past, present or future should have to deal with the emotional upset of being in the labour ward after the pain of losing a baby.
"I also think it's fitting the pilot will be in Wishaw General as that's where I was and no matter how hard it is I will take up the invitation to tour the facility once it has been completed.
"Now the battle continues to have the dedicated units rolled out across the country but I need women everywhere to fight for that. That's something I can't do on my own."
The promise of more support for partners, like her husband, Craig, is also vital.
Louise added: "Men feel like they have to be strong for us, Craig heard "you need to be strong for Lou" more than once, it's not fair.
"They need support, they need to grieve, not bottle it up - that's not good for anyone's mental health.
"And partners can feel helpless as they are watching us go through this, they can't push for us or go through labour for us.
"So it is absolutely vital that there is support specifically for them - we all grieve differently but it's something we all need to do."
Leah Noble, senior midwife, maternity inpatients, University Hospital Wishaw, said: “We recognise what a difficult time it is for a patient experiencing a miscarriage or stillbirth.
"The location in which parents receive care is something that can significantly influence their experience.
“Recognising the importance of privacy and grieving in a quiet and protected space, we are moving towards a model where all women who suffer pregnancy loss will be cared for in our O’Hana suite, which will be a soundproofed suite away from the labour ward.
"Future plans will include utilising two other rooms within this area where women will have the choice for them and their families to spend their full journey without the need to go to a labour ward. All care will be provided in this area which will be entered through the early pregnancy assessment unit."
Ms Noble added: “We have engaged with our internal contractors on soundproofing the area to ensure that these areas are equipped for clinical care. Our completion date has been set for the end of October to allow the work to be carried out.”
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