The Butterfly Initiative

The Purple Butterfly represents a baby that was part of a multiple pregnancy.

Caring for parents of multiples, they may face additional struggles: they may be grieving the loss of more than one baby, different causes of death for each baby, neonatal intensive care, surgeries, decisions on courses of treatment and possibly preparing to bring their surviving baby home.

Families may be overwhelmed by their feelings of loss and feel as though no one understands what they are going through. The Butterfly Initiative was started to assist health professionals in providing bereavement support. 

Miracle Babies Foundation worked alongside The Butterfly Project and the Skye High Foundation in the UK to deliver a program in Australia that will lead to greater support for families who experience bereavement in a multiple pregnancy.

Alongside the four hour course provided, we have developed resources for hospitals to use for staff training and awareness. 

HOSPITAL FLYER

SUPPORT GUIDELINES

BUTTERFLY STICKERS

additional resources

With thanks to CommBank Staff Foundation for funding clinicians to complete the four-hour online course.

Current course participants:
Emily Stevens, Royal Women’s Hospital, VIC
Terry Diamond, Royal Hospital for Women NSW
Georgina James, Royal Hospital for Women NSW
Julia MacDonald, Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW
Nicole White, Gold Coast University Hospital, QLD
Julie Macdonald, Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW
Bozena Wysocka, Bankstown Hospital NSW
Clare Dimer, King Edward Memorial Hospital, WA
Wendy Tan, Fiona Stanley Hospital WA
Jacinta Prosser, Royal Darwin Hospital, NT
Richelle Yu-Nguyen, Westmead Private Hospital NSW
Han Chan, King Edward Memorial Hospital, WA 
Christeena Slee, Albury Wodonga Health NSW/VIC
Jade Robinson, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, QLD
Reshma Tomy, Centenary Hospital for Women & Children, ACT
Brittany Gropler, Centenary Hospital for Women & Children, ACT 
Anna Thorn, Peninsula Health, NSW 
Anu Kochar, Women’s & Children’s Hospital, SA
Hazel Jane Torres Quebrar, Mater Mother’s Hospital, QLD
Linda Leslie, Women’s & Children’s Hospital, SA

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to complete this funded course. I believe as a nurse and care manager I can now provide a much more supported time for the parents in our unit."
-Emily Stevens

"Thanks so much for the opportunity to participate in this course I found it very valuable and provided many key messages which I will make sure I incorporate into my practice. I really enjoyed the course."
-Clare Dimer

"Thank you for the opportunity to complete the course. It was really informative and I got a lot out of it". - Anna Thorn

“It was so informative and very interesting. I highly recommend it.“
Hazel Quebrar

“Thank you for the opportunity to do this course which gave me a lot of insight and hints on supporting grieving parents with the loss of one of their babies, either in pregnancy or in the NICU. Whilst we already do the purple butterfly the course highlighted the importance of remembering their loss and not just focusing on the surviving baby/babies”.  Linda Leslie

Need support? NurtureConnect allows you to connect with our NurtureProgram support team, or call our 24 hour NurtureLine 1300 622 243 or join our Facebook community.

Nurtureconnect