Belinda Ainley suffered the devastating loss of a child after her son, Ash, was stillborn at 38 weeks.
Adding to the unimaginable grief she was experiencing, were the tasks she inevitably had to face in the aftermath, including dealing with Centrelink over assistance payments and returning the baby items she no longer required.
The mother has spoken out about her experiences after being faced with “no compassion” and assistance from an industry that is built on mothers and babies.
“You’re left feeling like you not only don’t have your baby, but that you don’t count because everybody feels too awkward to talk about it and so nothing happens,” Ainley tells The Age.
According to The Age, Ainley was denied a refund on a brand new cot and unused gift voucher despite appealing on compassionate grounds for them to waive their policies.
Dealing with Centrelink also proved difficult, reportedly told she was required to apply for bereavement leave in person, something she says she was not up to.
“There’s been many thousands of dollars in funeral and cremation costs, and medical tests for myself and Ash to try and find a cause of death,” she said.
A GoFundMe page has since been set up to help cover the cost of the cot, which will then be donated to St Kilda Mums with offer any extra money raised donated to stillbirth charity SANDS and Heartfelt.
$1905 has been raised so far.
“I’ve looked at the cot next to our bed every day and felt so sad,” Ms Ainley said. “Taking it back to that shop was going to be so hard for me, but instead parting with it is turning into something that’s going to be a really good moment.”
“Knowing that it’s going somewhere where someone will appreciate it, that it’s touched so many people, that strangers have donated money, and people who lost babies 25 years ago have posted messages of support … that has made me feel so happy.”
