Portlaoise hospital maternity staff 'warmly welcome' families to remembrance service

Portlaoise hospital staff are playing their part in a month of events to remember families who have suffered pregnancy and infant loss.

October is recognised internationally as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, which sees bereaved families, the community and healthcare professionals coming together to reflect, remember and raise awareness of the devastating impact of miscarriage or an infant death and serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of support, awareness and education in addressing pregnancy and infant loss.

Playing their part, maternity staff at the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise are organising a multi-denominational service of remembrance for bereaved families who have experienced a pregnancy loss, stillbirth or an infant death.

Ita Kinsella is the Director of Midwifery at the Laois hospital. She welcomed people to attend the memorial event. MORE BELOW PHOTO.

Pictured: 2023 Portlaoise hospital Midwife of the Year Sara Giani with Ita Kinsella, Director of Midwifery

“We warmly welcome all grieving parents, families and friends who have been affected by pregnancy or infant loss to attend this service, to honour and remember the babies who have died and to offer support to bereaved families. The service will include reflections, poetry, readings and music and will be followed by tea and refreshments in the parish centre,” she said in a statement to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

It takes place on Friday, October 10 at 6pm at SS Peter and Paul’s Church, Portlaoise, R32 R684. The event will also be available to view online at www.portlaoiseparish.ie.

International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day takes place on Wednesday, October 15. This involves an international Wave of Light event where organisations around the world light candles at 7pm to honour the memory babies.
The HSE outlines what is planned at the Laois maternity unit.

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“In solidarity, Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise will be lighting up as part of this continuous wave of light around the world in honour of babies who have died through miscarriage, stillbirth or in the neonatal period, to create a sense of global connection for grieving parents and families,” said the HSE.

The HSE National Standards for Bereavement Care required the establishment of Bereavement Specialist Teams to assist and support parents, families and professionals dealing with pregnancy loss.