The Arnau de Vilanova hospital in Lleida has launched the Espai Niu, a new resource aimed at supporting families going through gestational or neonatal loss. It is a specific space designed to facilitate saying goodbye to the baby in a private environment adapted to a situation of high emotional vulnerability.
The project is led by doctor Emili Mestre and psychologist Itziar Fernández. Both professionals are driving this initiative with the will to consolidate it as a reference in perinatal grief care within the Catalan healthcare system.
A room connected to a living room
The Espai Niu is made up of a room for parents directly connected to a living room. This layout allows the family, including siblings, grandparents, and loved ones, to accompany the farewell in an environment defined by the team as safe, intimate, and welcoming.
The space also incorporates a cold cot that allows the baby to be viewed by the family for as long as they need, a period that normally usually exceeds 12 hours. The room also has a rest area for parents and an entrance area that can be transformed into a place for small farewell ceremonies.
Perinatal Bereavement Care with a Therapeutic Approach
Doctor Emili Mestre, coordinator of the perinatal grief unit at Arnau, explained that the objective is to strengthen this resource as a care reference. He also defined its opening as a "step forward in humanization".
"Step forward in humanization" - Dr. Emili Mestre, Arnau de Vilanova Hospital
The psychologist Itziar Fernández, responsible for the design of the space, stressed that each element of the room has a therapeutic purpose aimed at facilitating a "satisfactory mourning". In her opinion, the new resource represents a step forward in the humanization of hospital care in moments of great vulnerability.
"Step forward in the humanization of hospital care in moments of great vulnerability" - Itziar Fernández, Arnau de Vilanova Hospital
An environment designed also for siblings and family members
The Espai Niu reserves a specific corner for the baby's siblings, with stories and toys. The intervention is thus not limited to the parents, but is extended to the entire family unit, with the intention of offering support from the first moment and generating protective factors against the impact of the loss.
The symbolism of the space has been worked through visual metaphors such as a drop of water and the tree of life. The hospital's approach goes beyond enabling a physical stay. The aim is to offer a tool that helps build positive memories within a painful context, in line with the care humanization process that Arnau de Vilanova has been developing in Lleida.