Parents donate cuddle cot to allow grieving families to create precious memories

Parents who have lost a baby are supporting others going through the same devastating experience to create precious memories of their own.

They have donated a special cooling cot that allows families grieving the loss of their baby during pregnancy or shortly after birth to spend time with them by slowing down the natural processes that occur after death.

Known as a cuddle cot, it is a specifically-designed system with a cooling mattress that is placed within a Moses basket.

Pictured above with the Cuddle Cot are: Chantele Cross-Jones and Christie-Ann Lang, along with support group members Lauren Greenhill, Leon Buckley, Jazzmin Roberts, Adam Japp, Jonathan Cross-Jones with two-year-old Effie, and Interim Midwifery Matron Felicity Curtis.

The new cuddle cot is an addition to the two already available in Singleton Hospital’s maternity and neonatal units.

The cost of £1,950 was met by members of Swansea Bay Baby Loss Support Group, which also paid for the Moses basket.

The group was formed in October 2019 by a number of bereaved parents and Swansea Bay’s specialist bereavement midwife Christie-Ann Lang.

“Using a cuddle cot ensures an adequate temperature is maintained to keep the baby cool,” said Christie-Ann. “It slows down the process of the natural changes that occur when a baby sadly dies.

“Parents are encouraged to keep their baby on the mat when they are not having cuddles or making memories to ensure they can spend as much time with their baby as they want.

“They can also choose to take their baby home with them and the cuddle cot is provided for them to use within their own home.

“Recently we had numerous families on the labour ward at the same time whose babies had died and we were short of cuddle cots.

“Having discussed this issue during support group the parents very kindly donated a third cot to the hospital, which was delivered within the week.”

Christie-Ann said it was suggested families used the cuddle cot for up to 72 hours. However, every family grieved differently and some might choose to use it for longer or not at all if they found it too difficult.

“All staff respect everyone’s decisions and will always provide individualised care to ensure all wishes are respected,” she said.

“As well as the cuddle cot we offer to take photographs, hand and foot prints, locks of baby hair, dressing and bathing baby and will try and meet all parents’ requests where possible.

“The memory-making we offer will last a lifetime. It is really important we offer parents all options so they can make an informed choice.

“They might change their mind in time, whether it be in weeks, months or  years down the line, and we will not be able to get those moments back.

“All photographs are stored on an individual sim card, and hand- and footprints can be placed in a memory box and given to parents if they wish to keep them for a later date.”

The support group was established after Christie-Ann was approached by four bereaved parents from the Swansea area. Some had previously attended a group in Bridgend and were keen to set one up locally.

Since then, it has gone from strength to strength, with a closed Facebook group having more than 240 active members.

Monthly support group meetings are held at Llandarcy Pavilion and welcome anyone who has been affected by the loss of a baby during pregnancy or shortly after birth.

It holds a main annual fundraising event, with group members also arranging individual fundraisers.

In March 2021, a step challenge raised around £3,200 for furniture and soft fittings in newly-refurbished quiet rooms for parents receiving difficult news in antenatal clinics in Singleton and Neath Port Talbot hospitals.

The group also funds resources such as books and information to support bereaved parents and for siblings to help them understand the death of a baby.

Support group treasurer and secretary Chantele Cross said: “If there is anything non-medical needed within the hospital, we usually cover the costs if possible.

“We have provided bath supplies, baby blankets and miniature baby outfits as a lot of the babies born are pre-term. Throughout Covid-19 we also provided toiletries and refreshments to staff in the hospital.

“Christie-Ann informed a support group meeting that they needed an extra cuddle cot because, sadly, there had been an influx of parents attending the unit at the same time.

“We have had other new requests recently, such as a Bluetooth speaker and refreshment supplies for families, and we will provide those as well.”

Swansea Bay Baby Loss Support Group meets in Llandarcy Pavilion on the last Monday of every month, from 7pm-8.30pm.

Further information about the group is available from Christie-Ann on 07766 466896 or via email at Christie-Ann.Lang@wales.nhs.uk.

If this story has inspired you to raise funds for your local NHS then Swansea Bay Health Charity would love to hear from you.

Swansea Bay Health Charity (registered charity number 1122805) is the official charity of Swansea Bay University Health Board.

It plays a vital role in raising money for projects and activities that support patients, whilst it also supports a range of projects to improve the working conditions and support available to staff. 

Nearly all wards and departments have their own fund, which all come under the Swansea Bay Health Charity umbrella. So if someone wants to give something back for the care they or a loved one has received, the charity ensures the funds raised will go directly there.

The charity does not replace NHS funding but uses generations donations received from patients, their families, staff and local communities to provide above and beyond what they NHS can provide.

Email the charity team at: swanseabay.healthcharity@wales.nhs.uk.

To find out more, follow this link to the Swansea Bay Health Charity website.