Emma Garner, from Manchester, has endured the unimaginable pain of eight baby losses. The emotional toll of these experiences was compounded by being forced to wait in maternity spaces alongside expectant mothers, a situation she describes as “feeling like a complete failure.” She’s not alone in her experience. The Pregnancy Loss Group’s 2023 report highlighted the importance of providing private spaces for grieving parents, recognizing the distress caused by being surrounded by pregnant individuals and newborns.
Kate Davies, from the baby loss charity Tommy’s, emphasizes the need for separate spaces, stating that “people dealing with the shock and grief of miscarriage should not have to wait side by side in any healthcare setting with others whose pregnancy journey remains positive.” Emma found herself in this situation repeatedly, enduring the emotional turmoil of waiting rooms filled with joy while she carried the weight of her loss.
Cheryl Crossley, who miscarried at 10-and-a-half weeks, was sent to A&E, an environment deemed inappropriate for grieving mothers by experts like psychotherapist Naomi Magnus. Magnus explains that waiting among pregnant women can be “hugely detrimental” and “intensely triggering,” intensifying feelings of grief, pain, anxiety, and stress. The experience for Cheryl was particularly harrowing, as she waited for seven hours in A&E with her deceased baby in a Tupperware box on her lap.
Content creator India Batson, based in the USA, took to TikTok to share her own experiences, sparking a conversation about the need for change. Her video, which garnered three million views, resonated with countless women who shared similar experiences. They echoed her sentiment that waiting rooms should provide separate spaces for women experiencing loss, recognizing the emotional burden of being surrounded by the very thing they have lost.
While the government has pledged to review and implement best practices for sensitive bereavement facilities, the need for immediate action is clear. Providing separate waiting areas and ensuring sensitive care for women and families experiencing baby loss is not just a matter of comfort but a necessity in their time of grief.
