Grieving parents touched by the trauma of stillbirth will be able to spend precious time with their stillborn babies and say goodbye, with new cuddle cots set to be rolled out at Victorian hospitals.
Minister for Health Jill Hennessy today announced cuddle cots at five new locations, as part of a $58,000 investment from the Andrews Labor Government.
The loss of a newborn creates unimaginable pain for young families, but cuddle cots provide a valuable opportunity for mums, dads and siblings who lose a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth or soon after birth.
The hospitals receiving cuddle cots are:
- The Royal Children’s Hospital
- Box Hill Hospital
- Northern Hospital
- Sunshine Hospital
- Northeast Health Wangaratta
Cuddle cots can make a real difference to the harrowing grieving process that families sometimes have to endure. The cooling system means parents can spend time with their baby who has passed away – and family members can travel and say their goodbyes without the baby having to enter a mortuary.
Today is International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. It’s a chance to raise awareness of the emotional impact of pregnancy loss or infant death, support bereaved families and honour babies who have passed away.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Jill Hennessy
“The unimaginable trauma of losing a baby is an experience too many families have to endure. Cuddle cots provide an important opportunity at a truly devastating time.”
“When parents or a big brother or sister have to say goodbye, they deserve all the time they need to pay their respects in their own unique way.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020