Initiated in 2019 by Gerry McLaughlin, when he was Provincial Grand Almoner, support for the Maternity Bereavement team at Kettering General Hospital continues with a £3,000 Masonic grant.
The Maternity Bereavement team provides Rainbow Bags for for parents who are expecting a baby following a stillbirth or neonatal death. A ”Rainbow baby" is a baby that is born following a miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death or infant loss. A rainbow follows a storm (baby loss) and is seen as a symbol of hope. These parents find it hard to purchase newborn items for their baby for fear of never realising their dream, so this bag is a start for them. Previously, local families had second hand items donated from the hospital when they haven't been able to buy anything for their new baby.
Local Freemasons with the support of the national Freemasons’ charity, the Masonic Charitable Foundation, have funded the latest batch of Rainbow Bags. They contain a rainbow blanket, vests, sleep suits, hats, nappies and cotton wool.
Stephanie Fretter, Bereavement Midwife, commented
For those who have experienced the loss of a baby at birth, the idea of having another is exciting but they may be wary of stocking up on baby essentials. It’s almost like tempting fate. That’s when we developed the idea of the Rainbow Bags. We wanted to provide women with essential items that they may have been nervous to buy. We are so grateful to the Masons for enabling us to carry on with this initiative by funding the latest this latest batch of Rainbow Bags.