Creating moulds and taking photographs are just a few examples of how a South Auckland charity is helping families heal after the loss of a baby.
Baby Loss New Zealand was created by Sarah Numan back in 2008 after the death of her own baby.
“I have four babies that have died and after our second baby we decided to have a post mortem,” Ms Numan told Tagata Pasifika.
“After 15 minutes of cuddling, my son Noah was taken out of my arms and wrapped in a black bag in front of me and taken off to post mortem.
“I didn’t have a voice to say ‘no’ and it ended up being a big regret – not having memories made.
“I’ve nothing to hold of that time and from then I decided that something needed to change, and Baby Loss New Zealand was set up about a year later.”
In 2010, Josie Apelu joined the support network which helps over 200 families a year who have lost a baby during pregnancy, at birth or at infancy.
“Our main service that we offer is the active parenting service,” Ms Numan said.
“This service is going to hospital, sometimes a funeral home or a family home and getting the parents and whānau all interacting with the baby.
“We do hand and footprints and hand and foot moulds to make the casts, we take photographs, we will bath the baby and get the baby dressed.”
Ms Numan and Ms Apelu are currently working with hospitals to train staff around a more nurturing and holistic approach to baby loss.
Tagata Pasifika met with the women to see how their charity is helping families to heal.
Watch the full story above.
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