Bereavement Support

The Rotunda realises the importance of helping and supporting parents around the time their baby dies. If this should happen to you, we have a team of staff available to help you and your family to get through such a difficult time in your lives. The bereavement support midwife, chaplain, bereavement social worker and staff involved in caring for you and your baby work very closely together.

Bereavement Symbol

We use the bereavement symbol, which was developed by the Hospice Friendly Hospitals Programme. 
It lets staff know that the woman/family in the room has suffered a recent bereavement.  On seeing the symbol staff are quiet and respectful and are prepared to meet people who are grieving.
The symbol is inspired by ancient Irish history and is non-denominational.  The three stranded white spiral represents the interconnected cycle of life – birth, life and death.  The white outer circle represents continuity, infinity and completion.  Purple is associated with nobility, solemnity and spirituality.

Bereavement Support Midwives

Losing a baby at any gestation or in any circumstances is deeply personal and heart breaking. You don’t have to navigate it alone. Our bereavement support midwives offer one-to-one compassionate care for families experiencing pregnancy or baby loss. They work closely with other clinical staff involved in your care to provide individualised support. They  provide ongoing emotional support and practical guidance from the moment of loss, all within a safe and caring environment.

They can help with:

• Support for parents following any form of pregnancy loss or the death of a baby
• Practical and emotional support for families during pregnancy when a life-limiting condition has been diagnosed
• Facilitating planning of medical investigations such as post-mortems or cytogenetic testing when appropriate
• Assistance with funeral arrangements, including hospital-led services, burial or cremation for people of all faiths and no faith
• Memory making where possible, including hand and foot prints (clay and/or ink), a small lock of hair, and a memory box
• Follow-up care at the appropriate clinic, where you will be seen by a senior doctor/consultant and the clinical midwife specialist
• Support for families during  new pregnancy after loss

Chaplaincy Service

There is a lay Roman Catholic chaplain available Monday to Friday. The chaplain is available to people of all faiths and those of no specific faith. Chaplains and ministers of other faiths and associations will be contacted by request. Families are always welcome to have their own priest/minister attend.

The chaplaincy service include:
• meeting and supporting families once a serious or life-threatening problem has been confirmed;
• praying with and for patients;
• providing and saying blessings or prayers, when requested;
• providing a personalised blessing certificate or a naming certificate;
• providing support to families whose pregnancy ends very early;
• arranging the sacrament of Baptism in special circumstances;
• providing support to bereaved families;
• attending and leading the removal service from the hospital mortuary chapel; and
• organising the Annual Service of Remembrance.

Bereavement Social Worker

The bereavement social worker meets most bereaved women during their hospital stay. If you have left hospital, the social worker will phone or write to you explaining the supports available. Initially she will offer you crisis counselling and then supportive contact and counselling in the weeks after the loss. Information on the various support groups for bereaved families will be given to you.

Follow-up Care

An appointment at the dedicated bereavement clinic in the Rotunda will be offered to you if your baby died after 16 weeks or if your baby had a post mortem.  You will be seen by a senior doctor and the bereavement support midwife. If you had been attending the prenatal diagnosis clinic or a consultant privately, an appointment will be arranged for you to meet with them instead around eight weeks after your loss.

Annual Remembrance Service

You are invited to attend The Rotunda Hospital Annual Service of Remembrance to acknowledge all babies who have died regardless of the circumstances or gestation. People recently bereaved or long ago bereaved are welcome to attend.
This years Service of Remembrance will be held on Sunday, 15th November 2026 at 3pm in St Saviour’s Church, Dominick Street, Dublin 1.

Book of Remembrance

Parents whose baby has died may have their baby’s details recorded in the book of remembrance, which is kept in the hospital mortuary chapel. Please complete the relevant section in the bereavement information booklet for parents whose baby has died. You can make arrangements to see the book of remembrance by contacting the hospital chaplain.

Contact details:
Bereavement support midwife – 01 817 1700 bleep 777
Chaplain – 01 817 1700 bleep 334
Bereavement social worker – 01 817 1722