“Hug Pockets” designed to comfort bereaved parents

Knitted bags enable London Ambulance Service staff to transport premature babies in a dignified way

Handmade ‘hug pockets’ designed to help parents cope with the trauma of losing a child have been rolled out across London’s Ambulance Service.

The knitted bags, created by the charity Blue Lights Babies, will allow staff to pass on premature babies in a dignified way and allow bereaved families to hold their baby after birth and in the ambulance.

Advanced paramedic Nicola Frayne worked alongside lead midwife Camella Main to launch the pockets – drawing on her own experience of losing a baby to drive the project.

Nicola said: “I have personal experience of losing a child and I know many others have too.

“At the time of my loss, I really struggled to transition from paramedic to patient. The change left me feeling incredibly vulnerable and I often felt very alone during the experience and trying to come to terms with the loss.

“The moment I saw the pockets, I really understood the impact it could have. I knew from a patient’s perspective the difference they would make.”

Hug pockets will now be included in the maternity packs carried in every ambulance in the Service.

In the past year, London Ambulance Service clinicians have attended 1,100 patients who have had a miscarriage or suspected miscarriage.

Camella said: “As midwives, supporting bereaved parents is an essential aspect of our role. It is essential to listen to what they need during this really difficult time.

“My colleagues and I have seen firsthand that giving parents time to hold their premature babies can be a crucial step in their recovery.”

As well as introducing hug pockets, London Ambulance Service has trained staff on how to support families. The training was designed with bereaved parents to support appropriate communication and memory formation.

Camella said: “I’m really pleased that the London Ambulance Service is helping to give parents the dignity they rightly deserve and to show empathy during these truly horrific times they are experiencing following the loss of their baby.”

Unfortunately, Nicola knows all too well the impact when this goes wrong.

She said: “I visited several GPs in the months following my loss and was often asked to repeat my experience and even asked to provide proof of my miscarriage.

“This increased my fear and anxiety about returning to work. But I use my experiences to try to help others when they need it the most.”

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