Rainbow baby bundle launched at hospital Trust

New rainbow bundles have been launched at your local hospital to support parents who give birth to a ‘rainbow baby’.

Hospitals in the Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust have launched the bundles to support parents in their next pregnancy following the loss of a baby.

 A ‘rainbow baby’ is a baby that is born following a stillbirth, neonatal death or infant loss in the family. Families can often find it hard to prepare for their next baby due to the fear of losing that baby.

The Trust’s official charity, The Health Tree Foundation (HTF), has granted funds to create the bundles for every ‘rainbow baby’ born at Grimsby and Scunthorpe hospitals. The beautiful rainbow bundle will include baby’s vests, baby grows, nappies cotton wool and beautifully hand crafted rainbow hats and blankets.

Bereavement midwife, Nicola Kerry, said: “They provide babies first physical needs, nappies clothes etc, as families who’ve faced previous loss don’t want to tempt fate by buying baby cloths and nappies they prepare for heart break as a kind of ‘self-preservation’.

“The pregnancy isn’t necessarily a happy time, often it’s filled with anxiety and worry about what will happen and often mums avoid the excitement of shopping and making plans and preparations because the last time those hopes, dreams and expectations were shattered.

“We hope to remove the initial stress on families when their babies are born healthy and happy when they haven’t prepared.”

The HTF are appealing for the community in North Lincolnshire to get on board and help create rainbow items for the bundles.

HTF Community champion, Hayley Thompson, said: “When we first heard about the idea of the rainbow bundles, we knew we had to be involved. 

“We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of the public so far and would like to say a huge thank you everyone who has helped created the rainbow items.

“Knowing we can help make a difference to parents in this situation is very rewarding.”

If you would like more information about The Health Tree Foundation’s rainbow bundles, please contact community champions Hayley Thompson (Scunthorpe) hayley.thompson3@nhs.net and Laura Gooderham (Grimsby) laura.gooderham@nhs.net.