MUM’S PLEA TO THE NHS
AMUM who endured a heartbreaking miscarriage has called on the government to set up a dedicated area for other women who face unexpected complications.
Louise Caldwell tragically found out her baby did not have a heartbeat at the 12-week scan in October last year.
However, her despair soon turned to fear when consultants told her she would have to be sent to the labour ward at University Hospital Wishaw to undergo her treatment, as is common practice with miscarriages over 11 weeks.
The 37-year-old told the Glasgow Times: “There’s nothing worse than walking out the ward holding the memory box.
“It was like a never-ending corridor, I couldn’t get out of their fast enough, and you’re seeing people in and out with balloons and car seats. It’s heartbreaking.
“I’m shocked there isn’t a place already and when I started speaking to my friends about it, they couldn’t believe it either.”
It wasn’t until Louise, who shares three sons with her husband Craig, heard about other women who were even further in their pregnancy having to go through the same ordeal that she knew she had to intervene.
Louise, who lives in East Kilbride, set up a petition calling on the NHS and Scottish Government to ensure dedicated space away from the labour ward which would allow people to go through the experience without “rubbing salt in the wound”.
The campaign quickly garnered support from more than 800 people and her local politicians.
Dr Lisa Cameron, MP for the area, said: “Louise’s work is invaluable as this is an extremely emotive issue for those families who have experienced pregnancy complications and miscarriage.
“Having suffered two traumatic miscarriages myself, it is not something that I will ever forget and it seems particularly cruel that you may be placed in a unit where families are rightly celebrating the birth of their baby, when at the same time you are experiencing the traumatic bereavement and loss of yours.”
Louise is now determined to ensure no other woman experiences the same heartache.
Cheryl Clark, chief midwife at University Hospital Wishaw, said: “The loss of any baby is tragic and is a very distressing time for the family.
“It is standard practice that all
• To support the campaign, visit change.org.