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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Nicola Findlay

Campaigning Lanarkshire mum hosts fundraiser to help grieving parents through baby loss

A mum who won her battle to have dedicated baby loss facilities in Lanarkshire is now fundraising to provide specialist equipment to allow parents more time to grieve.

Louise Caldwell, from East Kilbride, described her "tears of joy" when the health board confirmed that facilities for women who suffer pregnancy loss are due to be up and running by the end of October at University Hospital Wishaw.

And she now wants to raise cash for Cuddle Cots in the new facility in the hospital for devastated families.

In 2019 Louise and husband, Craig, were given the devastating news during a 12-week scan that the little one she was carrying didn't have a heartbeat - and had to endure the trauma of delivery in a labour ward at Wishaw.

Her recent breakthrough came after two years of tireless campaigning by the 38-year-old - and she is still battling have units, away from labour wards, rolled out across the rest of Scotland and the UK.

Cuddle Cots are cooling pads which can be inserted into any type of baby bed – from Moses baskets to carry-cots, prams to cots.

A dedicated baby loss unit is due to be in place at Wishaw General by October (Wishaw Press)

Louise told Lanarkshire Live : "The Cuddle Cot allows parents more time to grieve, which is so important.

"It allows the parents more precious time with the baby they have lost and time for families to come and say their goodbyes.

"I was overjoyed when the health board confirmed the dedicated unit was happening in a few months all going to plan and now I want to do this. The loss of a baby is just devastating and the pain is unimaginable.

"The suites will be life-changing for future generations of women. The baby loss community has been neglected and ignored for too long. For a long time it felt like I was banging my head against a brick wall.

“No woman past, present or future should have to deal with the emotional upset of being in the labour ward after the pain of losing a baby."

The fundraiser for the cots will be held in The Murray Bar on October 22.

Mum-of-three Louise added: "The bar manager has been so lovely and has spoken with his head office and they are going to print the tickets for free.

"There will also be a race night, karaoke and music for dancing to finish off the night and of course there will be food as well. The event will ticketed and if people go to the Baby Loss Unit Facebook page, there will be more details on when tickets will be available."

A gofundme page has also been set up to help Louise go to Westminster to take her fight to have dedicated units across the UK to MPs, with all remaining cash going towards the cots.

It comes after an invite from Dr Lisa Cameron MP, who has supported Louise's campaign along with MSPs Monica Lennon and Collette Stevenson.

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