A Bury mum is one of the first parents to use a special teddy bear to record her unborn daughter’s heartbeat to keep forever, at Derian House Children’s Hospice.
For parents whose baby faces an uncertain future, creating precious memories – like recording their heartbeat in a teddy bear – can be a meaningful way to feel connected to their child.
Facilitated by the hospice’s dedicated midwife, the bears mean that parents will be able to preserve and cherish the sound of their child’s beating heart.
“When I knew we could keep our baby’s heartbeat forever, it meant the world,” said Danielle Scoble, 29, the first expectant mum to use the heartbeat teddy bears at the hospice.
Danielle lives in Radcliffe, Bury with her partner Jordan Bailey, 32, and two sons Isaiah, four, and Jeremiah, two.
“When we found out we were having a girl, we named her Rosalina. But then we were told that our daughter would not have a long life expectancy when she was born. We were referred to Derian House after that, and Maria the midwife first told us about the heartbeat bears.
“It means the world to be able to have something I can keep close to me to remind me of her, to hold her without holding her. We don’t know what the future holds for our family, but to have something as simple as a heartbeat bear means the world.
“I want to have a heartbeat bear for each of my boys too, so they forever have something they can hug and feel close to their sister whenever they need it.
“And I think these bears will mean so much to other families like ours. We are being given something that will be comforting forever, something we can embrace. It’s not like a photo, it’s a physical thing you can hold close to you and comfort you. Whatever happens, we’ll always be able to pick up our bear and listen to Rosalina’s heartbeat.”
A box of 50 teddy bears that contain a recording device were donated to Derian House by charity Oliver Abel’s Wish, as well as a Sonicaid Doppler that will help to capture the sound of a baby’s heartbeat, thanks to medical device company, Arjo.
Derian House’s midwife will continue to share the keepsake teddy bears with expectant families who use the hospice.
Maria Williamson, Midwife at Derian House, said: “With the donation of these very special teddy bears, we will be able to make sure mums and dads are able to treasure their child’s heartbeat forever.
“As a midwife, I think the pregnancy journey should feel special for all parents, no matter the situation. We want them to enjoy it and spend time with their baby in whatever ways we can help them do that.
“One way we can do that – and one I think is incredibly important – is through memory making. And that is exactly what the heartbeat bears enable our parents to do.”
Derian House Children’s Hospice, based in Chorley, Lancashire, cares for more than 400 babies, children, young people and their families from across the North West, helping them to make the most of every moment.
Although care is free for families, it costs £6million each year to run the hospice. With only a small percentage of this coming from the government, the charity relies heavily on the generosity of its supporters.
