Mothers launch fundraiser to help clothe stillborn babies

Tayside appeal to give keepsakes to bereaved parents

Bereaved mothers in Tayside have come together to launch a fundraiser to provide keepsakes for grieving parents.

It comes at the same time as an appeal for knitted hats for newborn babies at Ninewells after a shortage saw donations sent from across Europe.

Five mothers whose babies were stillborn have set up a Gofundme page to help buy packs of clothing so parents going through the heartbreak of a stillbirth are able to dress their child.

Heartbroken mothers Ashley Stevens, Robyn Stevens, Jade Muirhead, Carly Robb and Ellie De-Gernier set up the appeal and hope to deliver packs to hospitals across Scotland.

They are already due to donate 18 baby packs to the Tulip Suite in Ninewells a few days before Christmas. The group donated clothes to Ninewells earlier this year, but that has already been used so they set up the online fundraiser to buy even more.

Ashley said: “It has been heartwarming that you can depend on Dundee at times like this to support you on heartfelt and worthy causes.

“The small target will dress 18 stillborn babies from 1lb to 3.5lb.”

With an initial target of £250 when the appeal was set up last week, they have quickly raised nearly £200.

Ashley spoke earlier this year about wanting to set up a support network for grieving families after the loss of her son Noah. Part of that goal is to continue helping heartbroken families dress their stillborn child.

Meanwhile, the Dundee Midwifery Unit has been receiving donations from as far away as Cyprus to help with a shortage of knitted hats for newborns.

Linda Gierasik, senior charge midwife at DMU, said: “We have been overwhelmed with the many donations of knitted hats, little cardigans and beautiful blankets we have received.”

Picture: Steve MacDougall. Ashley Stevens with a teddy that was for her stillborn baby.