Pregnancy and Infant Loss
“There is no foot too small that it can not leave an imprint on this world”.
The Fairy Godmothers became aware of the need for more Pregnancy and Infant loss support and resources to be available throughout Tasmania.
In February 2015 a new clause was included in The Fairy Godmothers constitution:
To provide financial assistance towards resources and equipment to help those who have experienced pregnancy loss and infant death within our Tasmanian Community which falls within our Selection Criteria.
A Pregnancy and Infant Loss Subcommittee was formed to focus on increasing the support and resources for families who have experienced a heartbreaking loss.
The committee is in need of more members and volunteers, if you are interested in joining the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Subcommittee please contact enquiries@thefairygodmothers.com.au or phone 0417 315 133.
The Fairy Godmothers have had the honour in providing the following resources to the Tasmanian community:
A Cuddle Cot is a specialised cooling system in the United Kingdom that reduces the core body temperature in an infant that has passed away, slowing down deterioration and giving grieving families time. Time to make important decisions, time to bond with their baby and time to make memories. The Fairy Godmothers decided to make it our mission to ensure every maternity ward in Tasmania had access to a Cuddle Cot.
Cuddle cots can be used in maternity wards in hospitals but can also be taken home if a family wishes to do so.
In February 2014 The Fairy Godmothers donated our first Cuddle Cot to the North West Private Hospital Maternity ward in Burnie in memory of Patrick O’Neill and Alice Davison.
North West Private Hospital
In February 2014 The Fairy Godmothers donated our first Cuddle Cot to the North West Private Hospital Maternity ward in Burnie in memory of Patrick O’Neill and Alice Davison.
Mersey Hospital Maternity Ward
In June 2014 a Cuddle Cot was donated to the Mersey Hospital Maternity Ward in memory of Annabelle Owens and Amaya Stevens.
Launceston General Hospital
In August 2014, friends and family of Amaya Stevens raised money and donated it to The Fairy Godmothers to purchase another cuddle cot. This was donated to the Launceston General Hospital maternity ward in memory of Amaya.
Vincent Funerals
In September 2016 The Fairy Godmothers donated a Cuddle Cot to Vincent Funerals in memory of Alice Davison.
Vincent Funerals have kindly offered to deliver the Cuddle Cot to where it may be required, in the case that the facilities cuddle cot is already in use.
During this time other families and organisations saw the importance of the Cuddle Cot which means that each Maternity Ward and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Tasmania have Cuddles Cots.
If there is ever need for another to be purchased The Fairy Godmothers would be honoured to do so.
Pregnancy & Infant Loss Memorial Wall
The Fairy Godmothers became aware of the lack of acknowledgment or resting place for an infant lost in early pregnancy through to birth.
The amazing Leonore Mansour spoke to The Fairy Godmothers about her dream of the establishment of a pregnancy and infant loss memorial wall, this planted the seed that grew and grew.
We cannot thank Leonore enough for trusting us to fulfil her dream.
The Fairy Godmothers Inc with the assistance of our Pregnancy & Infant Loss Subcommittee, have been honoured to be responsible for the installation of a memorial wall at the Burnie Lawn Cemetery. With a grant from The Tasmanian Community Fund and the fundraising from The Fairy Godmothers, we were able to have a large bronze tree sculpture attached to a wall constructed at the Cemetery. The memorial is open for anyone that has suffered a pregnancy loss, at any stage, and for those that have endured a loss at birth or soon after.
To the best of our knowledge, this memorial is the first of its kind to be dedicated to pregnancy and infant loss within Tasmania and possibly even Australia. The memorial gives those who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death, whether in the past, present or future, the opportunity to create a unique memory by placing an engraved leaf on the large bronze cast tree in honour of their baby.
Leaves can be ordered, engraved with your personal choice of wording and attached to the tree located in the tranquil setting of the Burnie Lawn Cemetery, overlooking the majestic views of Table Cape and Bass Strait, with seating nearby to allow visitors to sit and reflect.
Families need a special place to grieve and remember regardless of what stage of gestation had been achieved. Until recently early pregnancy loss was not recognized or certified.
Prior to 1980, miscarriage and stillbirth were a taboo subject- not even talked about by the medical profession or the community. Many women within the older generation had never had the opportunity to have the death of their baby acknowledged or recognised. They have silently carried their grief and loss with nowhere to visit to symbolise their baby. Many do not know where their baby is buried. They now have a place to acknowledge their baby
Parents, siblings, extended family, caregivers and medical staff all now have a place to mourn, reflect and heal.
The memorial was officially opened on the 22nd November, 2017 by the Acting Mayor of Burnie – Alwyn Boyd.
Would you like to watch the Memorial Wall Opening click the link below.
https://www.facebook.com/thefairygodmothersnonprofitorg/videos/1592354407490796/
It is now The Fairy Godmothers mission to install the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Memorial Walls throughout Tasmania. A small percentage from each leaf purchased from the Burnie memorial goes towards the construction of our next tree.
As we establish more walls we can offer families a choice of the area that they would like their remembrance leaf to be, transferring any leaves to the preferred wall memorial at no charge.
The Fairy Godmothers need more volunteers to join our Pregnancy and Infant Loss Subcommittee to assist with our dream of having the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Memorial trees in numerous places throughout Tasmania, as well as assisting to ensure our commitment of obtaining resources and equipment needed is maintained.
Mothers Day & Fathers Day Tributes
For Mothers Day and Fathers Day, members of our pregnancy and infant loss subcommittee
held a tribute to mothers and fathers who have lost a loved one.
Watch the video below and join us in an acknowledgement and a time of reflection and healing.