Manacor opens a perinatal mourning garden in the cemetery to offer families a symbolic space.
The new space is located in the new part of the cemetery and has wooden benches, Mediterranean vegetation and a love tree in the center.
PalmThe loss of a child, before or shortly after birth, is a painful and often silenced experience. To help families cope with this grief, Manacor City Council has created a space for perinatal, gestational, and neonatal grief in the Son Coletes Municipal Cemetery. This space is designed for all those who have experienced this reality and need a physical reference point to provide the necessary calm.
According to Councilor Joana Maria Llull, the space was created "with the desire to offer a physical, symbolic, and dignified place for those families who need a place of remembrance, reflection, and calm." "Here, the word 'care' takes on its full meaning," she adds. Catalina Pou, a psychologist specializing in perinatal grief, and members of the Perinatal Grief Commission of Manacor Hospital participated in the event.
Located in the new part of the cemetery, the space is designed to convey serenity and hope. Wooden benches, Mediterranean vegetation and a love tree have been installed (Cercis siliquastrum) in the center, decorated with a butterfly made of bark, a universal symbol of perinatal grief. Surrounding it, aromatic plants such as rosemary, lavender, and sage will soon grow. When they bloom, they will attract butterflies, reinforcing the message of life and continuity. The project has involved an investment of 10,000 euros and has had the collaboration of the Estel de Llevant association, which will be responsible for the gardening and maintenance of the space.
Hospital protocol
When a case of pregnancy or newborn loss arrives at Manacor Hospital, healthcare professionals, such as the head of pediatrics, Guillem Barceló, assure that the first step in the protocol is to inform the affected family with sensitivity and respect. "When we have a situation like this, the first thing we do is ensure that the family receives all the information clearly and compassionately," explains Barceló. This is always handled by two doctors, with the aim of showing maximum empathy.
To reinforce this emotional support, the hospital has adopted the image of a purple butterfly, the international symbol of perinatal grief. After speaking with the family, hanging one of the butterflies in the dilation area helps to make the situation visible and ensure that the entire hospital team is aware of the loss, thus offering respectful and consistent treatment at all times. "After informing the family, we move the process to the ward."
The hospital also offers the so-called "cuddle crib," an initiative that allows families to spend more time with their baby, with the intention of experiencing the situation and saying goodbye in their own way: reading a story, bathing the baby, or changing a more authentic and real event. "We make an effort to provide training to raise awareness among all staff and so they know how to treat families during these delicate moments," says Isabel Rodríguez, the hospital's training manager.
Currently, the public health system does not have a specific psychological consultation for these individuals, although the will is there: "We plan to expand psychological care in the new Manacor Hospital building, with a consultation dedicated to obstetrics," explains Rodríguez.
Catalina Pou, a psychologist specializing in perinatal bereavement, emphasizes the importance of symbolic space. "Families who are grieving often have no physical memory of their child, except for an ultrasound, if they were able to get one." That's why spaces like this are essential: "They offer an environment of peace, tribute, and remembrance. It's a place to make grief visible, a memory that helps express the emotions that society often avoids talking about." Pou explains that women are often the ones who experience this process alone, burdened by feelings of failure. "We need to make perinatal grief more visible, help break its stigma, and remember that loss is not a guilt but a part of our life cycle."
These initiatives highlight how humanization in the hospital setting can make a difference for many families, at a time that is always fraught with emotion and vulnerability.
A site open to everyone
The main objective is for anyone who has experienced the loss of a child to be able to leave a memento: fresh flowers, candles, notes, or other symbolic items, always with respect and good maintenance habits. This will help the space retain its dignity and tranquility, allowing it to remain a haven of peace.
With the launch of this space, Manacor takes another step in its commitment to a society that is more sensitive and respectful of the grieving process. According to Llull, "this space not only welcomes, but also heals, recognizes, and gives voice to experiences of loss that often remain silenced." Ultimately, this new corner in Son Coletes aims to be a place of peace, hope, and memory, where all families in need can find support and empathy.
