‘It’s so brave’: Kate Middleton speaks to women who have experienced baby loss at miscarriage research centre
The Duchess of Cambridge has spoken with women who have experienced baby loss at a miscarriage research centre in London.
On Wednesday, Kate visited the Institute of Reproductive and Development Biology at Imperial College London to learn more about miscarriage, premature birth, and stillbirth.
The visit took place as part of Baby Loss Awareness Week, which aims to support those who have experienced baby loss and increase national understanding around the subject.
While there, Kate met a woman called Clare Worgan, whose daughter, Alice, was stillborn.
Ms Worgan, 39, said that she spent three days in the hospital in Manchester after Alice was born in September 2017.
“We spent those three days cramming in a lifetime’s worth of memories,” she told Kate.
"When she was born, she was absolutely perfect. Her birth was literally the best thing that ever happened to me. And also the worst thing that ever happened to me.
“When we went home our lives had been turned upside down. We had been devastated. A week after Alice’s funeral I decided I wanted to become a midwife, because the care I received was so amazing. I wanted to do what they had done for me.”
The Duchess thanked Ms Worgan for sharing her story.
“It’s so brave of you to be able to talk so openly,” she said.
“A lot of the research, a lot of the support for organisations, is being driven by parents who have been through this experience, and want to help others. It is so inspirational.”
During her visit, Kate was also introduced to Obiele and Nii-Addy Laryea. The couple lost two babies in pregnancy before seeking help from a clinic in London run by Tommy’s, which is the largest UK charity funding research into miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth, and providing pregnancy health information to parents.
The team performed a cervical stitch operation that kept the couple’s now two-year-old son Tetteh-Kwei safe in the womb.
For the occasion, the Duchess wore a blue Emilia Wickstead dress with a floral face mask.
Baby Loss Awareness Week, which is in its 18th year, is running until Sunday, and focuses on offering support to bereaved parents and raising awareness for baby loss in the UK.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can contact stillbirth and neonatal death charity Sands on 0808 164 3332 or email helpline@sands.org.uk. The helpline is open from 9.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday, and until 9.30pm on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
You can contact the Miscarriage Association helpline on 01924 200799 or email the charity at info@miscarriageassociation.org.uk. The helpline is open from 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday.
You can also find bereavement support at The Lullaby Trust by calling 0808 802 6868 or emailing support@lullabytrust.org.uk.
To contact Petals to enquire about the charity’s counselling services, you can call 0300 688 0068 or email counselling@petalscharity.org.
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