Trigger warning: This article contains discussion about stillbirth, pregnancy and newborn loss.
Losing a baby at any stage of pregnancy can be deeply upsetting.
Coming to hospital and waiting in a busy antenatal unit, among other expectant mothers, in order to receive ongoing support after pregnancy loss can be a cause of added distress and discomfort for a woman and her partner.
The Butterfly Room, a new private space for grieving parents to talk with medical and midwifery staff or social workers, is now open at Westmead Hospital.
Westmead Hospital’s Deputy Director Nursing and Midwifery Julie Swain, Clinical Midwife Consultant Sarah Melov and bereavement midwives have passionately advocated for a suitable space to improve care for bereaved parents.
“As a midwife I have witnessed the profound grief of parents navigating the unimaginable loss of a child,” Julie said.
“The Butterfly Room offers a compassionate, private space for reflection and support. It reflects our deep commitment to providing not just medical and midwifery care, but human care, meeting families with tenderness when they need it most,” Julie said.
The room will be available for ongoing care provided by the hospital’s bereavement midwives with families who have experienced pregnancy loss from 14 weeks gestation, stillbirth or neonatal death.
The contact time a family will have with the bereavement midwives can vary greatly dependent on the mother’s needs.
Bereavement midwives Rita Khoury and Laura Tan recognised a need for improved care and followed the idea from conception to fruition.
“The thought of supporting families through this heartbreaking journey, to try and make navigating hospital procedures and follow up of investigations that little bit smoother, are a couple of reasons why I wanted to be a Bereavement Midwife,” said Laura.
Equipped with soft curtains and murals, The Butterfly Room aims to provide solace to families, reinforcing Westmead Hospital’s commitment to compassionate bereavement care.
“They can have a private space, entering through a different door, to wait and then be seen by the medical team and/or social work,” Laura said.
The newly furnished space is designed to promote healing, and the services are in demand: bereavement midwives have over 1,000 appointments with nearly 200 women and their families each year.
“It is a privilege to support bereaved parents in their darkest moments,” said Rita.
Having her own experience with stillbirth, Rita’s connection to The Butterfly Room is deeply personal.
“After I had a stillborn baby three decades ago, I didn’t think I could even return to nursing let alone work as a midwife and care for mothers and babies in the birth unit,” Rita said.
“I remembered the sadness and isolation I felt after losing my precious daughter,” Rita said.
“I hope we reinforce and reassure these families that they are not alone,” Rita said.
The Butterfly Room was made possible thanks to the kindness and generosity of donors, organised by the Westmead Hospital Foundation General Manager, Bianca Crvelin.
Furnishings provided by Pattern Two and KING Living provide a softer, less clinical setting which is complimented by a mural and fresh paint, installed by Reddot Group.
“Contributions allow us to create spaces like The Butterfly Room that provide care beyond the clinical, touching hearts and lives when it matters most,” Bianca said.
Help us continue creating spaces like The Butterfly Room and support more families across the hospital.
Please consider making a donation to Westmead Hospital Foundation: