Buttercup Room and clinic offer comfort at time of loss

Date of release: 11 October 2023

A grieving couple have praised the support offered at Wolverhampton’s New Cross Hospital for those dealing with early pregnancy loss.

Tara Turner and her partner Robert Heeley, who lost son Harlow Denis Heeley on 21 April this year at 15-16 weeks, are sharing their experience this Baby Loss Awareness Week.

The couple, who have two children – Alfie, aged seven, and Daisy-Mae, four – have used the new Buttercup Room which is a quiet, calm space away from clinical areas and the hustle and bustle of wards.

In the room, which is situated off Ward D18 Gynaecology Outpatients, there is a memory tree for loved ones to hang leaves containing names of lost babies.

There is also a  Buttercup Clinic which hosts more targeted follow-up sessions to support mums and couples who are grieving early pregnancy loss, which is described as a loss of under 16 weeks.

Emily Cooper, who was the country’s first Early Pregnancy Bereavement Nurse when she was appointed to the role at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT) four years ago, launched the Buttercup Room and Clinic.

Tara said: “Our experience with the Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit (EPAU) and Emily started on 13 April, after the most difficult scan we have ever had when we were told our baby’s heartbeat had stopped.

“I was introduced to the Buttercup Room, where Emily guided us through everything. The room helped distract us from the hospital as it brought us a feeling of comfort, which helped us.

“Seeing the memory tree helped us come to terms with the fact we are not alone and that these things do happen. The Buttercup Room has also helped our two children – who are six and four at the time – come to terms with losing their baby brother.

“Emily explained to them the ribbons on the tree are in memory of all the babies that have gone to heaven. My children felt comfort with putting a ribbon on the tree for Harlow and they often mention it.

“She has bought us all comfort with coming to terms with our loss. My relationship with Emily has continued and she has helped us going forward and we stay in contact – if we need her she is there.

“Emily tries to answer all our questions and if she can’t, she tries to find the answers for us. EPAU wouldn’t be the same without Emily as she has brought comfort to so many people.

“If sharing this story helps just one person who has experienced the same as us then it will be worth it.”

Emily said such facilities are vital to provide a calm space for those experiencing early pregnancy loss.

“The Buttercup Room is used every day to break bad news and counsel people through treatments,” she said.

“The Buttercup Clinic is my Nurse-led clinic where designated follow-up appointments are arranged to specifically support patients who have had traumatic journeys with baby loss.

“The clinic appointments have been very well received. This is a sacred time for couples or ladies to really open up to talk about the fears and anxieties that the physical side of their loss has distracted them from.”