Couple launch charity to support bereaved parents

A Sheerness couple who lost an unborn child after their concerns were ignored by a midwife have launched a charity to improve care for grieving parents.

Kristina and Lee Pepper's son, Theo, was stillborn at Kent's Medway Maritime Hospital in October 2023.

Two days earlier, Mrs Pepper - who had a high-risk pregnancy - had contacted the hospital after losing fluids, but was advised to stay at home.

The couple have now started Theo's Foundation after experiencing what they say was a lack of support in the months after their loss.

They said they were given no help with their grief after being discharged.

Mrs Pepper said: "It comes in waves. Sometimes it's absolutely tidal and sometimes it's much calmer.

"But not having anything to anchor yourself to support, not knowing where to go to, it's so difficult."

The foundation aims to provide resources for health practitioners around baby loss as well as support for grieving mums and dads.

The charity is fundraising to buy more cold cots for hospitals so parents can spend longer with their child after they pass, and to build more baby memorial gardens across the UK.

Mrs Pepper said: "Those resources are vital for families."

A hospital investigation found Theo's life could have been saved had Mrs Pepper had an emergency C-section when she first raised concerns.

After going public with their story in January 2024, the parents were inundated with messages from bereaved families, an experience Mrs Pepper described as a "double-edged sword".

She said: "As a parent who's experienced loss you never want to hear that somebody else has had to experience that pain.

"You wouldn't wish it on your worst enemy."

In January, Sarah Vaux, interim chief nursing officer, said Medway NHS Foundation Trust would offer its support to the couple "for as long as they need it".

She said: "We offer our deepest condolences to Mr and Ms Pepper for the devastating loss of their baby, and we are deeply sorry for the distress they are experiencing."

The trust declined to comment further on Friday.

Details of help and support with child bereavement and pregnancy related issues are available at the BBC Action Line.

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