Hospital unveils memorial for baby loss families

An NHS hospital has unveiled a handcrafted metal butterfly sculpture as a memorial for babies who did not make it home with their loved ones.

The artwork has been installed outside the Women's and Children's Unit at Peterborough City Hospital, offering a place of reflection for families affected by baby loss.

It was inspired by midwife Afton Cope, who lost her son Charlie following a complicated pregnancy in 2023.

"Our aim here is for bereaved parents to feel seen and acknowledged," said Afton. "I will pass this sculpture every day and remember not only my son, but all the babies that could not stay."

She added: "I know all too well how it feels to walk in these hospital doors with life growing inside of you, and to walk out with empty arms and an empty womb.

"You feel invisible, as all other parents walk around you with their babies for the world to see."

Alongside her sister Lorren - a nurse at the hospital - and bereavement midwife Lesley Carline, she worked with Cambridgeshire-based artist Jeni Cairns to create the six-foot-wide piece.

The artist, who lives in Coates, near Peterborough, said: "It was important for me to capture elements of the natural world, such as forget-me-not flowers, bees, birds and rabbits, to create a lasting tribute that reminds us all how we are connected with the beauty of the world around us.

"I hope it will bring comfort to those who have experienced such a sad loss."

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