ANGLICAN CHURCH WOMEN

ACW Nova Scotia Board

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2010 SOCIAL ACTION PROJECT

PREEMIE BURIAL GOWNS

We are borrowing a project undertaken by the Anglican Church Women in the Diocese of Edmonton. That is to make Burial Gowns and Hoods which are donated to the hospitals and are used by the staff typically to dress a stillborn or deceased child before letting the parents have a grieving time with their infant. Burial gowns are used in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for newborns who are either expected to pass away in the near future or who have already died. When a baby is not expected to survive, staff (such as nurses, doctors, social workers, chaplains) work together to provide bereavement support for the family and companionate care for the baby.

Each gown is unique and special just like their baby. The baby can be dressed in this gown and often times these gowns can be used during a baptism or other spiritual ceremony as well as for photos (both before and after the baby has passed away.) Some parents choose to have their baby buried in the gown while many will choose to keep the gown as a special memento of their child. These gowns help the parents and family members to prepare for and deal with the death of their newborn. The gowns are treasured always.

The gowns and hoods can be given to your local hospital and/or the IWK Children’s Hospital, 5850/5980 University Avenue, P.O. Box 9700, Halifax, N.S. B3K 6R8 Tel: 1-902-470-8888.

Patterns are available for a Preemie Burial Gown (small, medium, & large sizes), a sewn Burial Hood, and a knitted Burial Bunting. For copies of the patterns, contact Anna Langille at the ACW Room at 1-902- 423-8697or at home 1-902-479-2778 or Donna Parsons via e-mail at donnaparsons@eastlink.ca or at 1-902-865-8169. Please let our Social Action Chair, Anna Langille, know when you have participated in this Social Action Project.