Caroline Hammat
The heartbreak of stillbirth has led one local mother to create a foundation in memory of her daughter, Charlotte.
Rhianna Davy is a local mother of four who lost her third child in the days before Christmas, December 2020.
Charlotte had developed a rare birth defect, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, which led to her stillbirth at just 27 weeks.
Through her experience during this difficult time Ms Davy was made aware of the importance of acknowledging her daughter and sharing her story with others.
This led to Ms Davy creating bereavement boxes destined for parents at Mount Gambier Hospital in a similar situation.
“I was given some stuff when I had Charlotte but it didn’t feel like enough to make memories, in these boxes will be things I wish I had been provided with” she said.
The bereavement boxes will include parchment for hand and feet prints and a plain journal and pen for writing down memories or notes of any kind.
A coffee mug and bath salts will also be added to the boxes, which will be either pink or blue themed, with Ms Davy planning to make boxes suitable for twins also.
“I am also crocheting two blankets for every single box” Ms Davy said.
“Families can have one to wrap their baby in and they can take that blanket home and their baby still has one.
“I’ve been asked to do a personal letter in each of the boxes so they know that it’s personalised by someone who has gone through the same thing.
“I know a few people that have lost babies and I love to hear about their babies and they love to hear about Charlotte.
“You don’t feel so alone.
“I’m just a stranger but it could form a friendship because of the hard time, you need someone who understands what you are going through.”
Ms Davy’s support is not limited to the bereavement boxes as she has been working alongside Mount Gambier Hospital staff to supply a new end of life cart which she calls a Butterfly Cart.
“The carts supply things like a kettle and microwave so the families don’t have to leave their room.
“It’s hard to find the right cart because it needs to be in the right material, have the right storage and I want something that is beautiful because it will have Charlotte’s name on it.
“I want to be able to put the bereavement box on there and give it in a respectful way.”
Ms Davy hoped the Butterfly Cart would be ready for delivery to the hospital during the week of Charlotte’s fourth birthday in December.
Limestone Coast Local Health Network Nurse Unit Manager Maternity and Paediatric Ward Sonia Wilson thanked Ms Davy for her generous donation.
“Experiencing a stillbirth is a difficult and personal experience, and we welcome any efforts to help ease this pain for families,” she said.
“The lovingly created bereavement boxes and Butterfly Cart in Charlotte’s name will help bring comfort to families here in the Limestone Coast, knowing that they are not alone.”
Ms Davy is currently organising a raffle to raise funds to help with the cost of the bereavement boxes and to supply Bears of Hope for families in honour of their babies.
“If someone loses a baby and they want to donate a box in their memory I will have bears here and all that needs to be added is their name and the date if that is what they want to do.”
Since the families loss of Charlotte, Ms Davy, her partner James, eight-year-old Sophia and six-year-old Lewis have welcomed Bentley who is now two-years-old.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare more than 2000 babies are stillborn every year in Australia.
Immediate support for anyone affected by miscarriage, stillbirth or the death of a baby or child can be accessed by phoning Red Nose 1300 308 307, 24-hour service, seven days a week.
