New cot a heartfelt gift for grieving parents

TIME is the greatest gift the Cuddle Cot offers to grieving parents, giving them valuable extra moments with their baby if they pass away.

SPECIAL DONATION: Staff at the Lismore Base Hospital, from left, Shannon Morris, Michelle Mitchell, and Lorraine Smith were grateful for the donation of a cuddle cot by Jessica Nash. Picture: Cathy Adams

TIME is the greatest gift the Cuddle Cot offers to grieving parents at the Lismore Base Hospital, giving them valuable extra moments with their baby if they pass away.

Jessica Nash from Coffs Coast Angel Babies and the area manager for Angel Gowns Australia Inc delivered the gifts to midwives at the hospital last week.

Nurse in charge of the birth suite, Lorraine Smith, was grateful for the cot, saying it would lessen some of the angst and anxiety parents suffer after the loss of a baby.

"This puts a human face on things," she said.

"Parents are going to be able to have their baby in with them, and families are going to be able to visit, and it's not going to be clinical."

The Cuddle Cot is a wicker bassinet with a small refrigeration unit that means a baby can stay with parents in their room for a number of days, without the need to be separated and taken to the morgue.

"It's (separation) distressing for parents, and staff," Ms Nash said.

"Now they can have their baby with them until they are ready to say goodbye."

Angel Gowns, made from donated wedding dresses and sewn by volunteer seamstresses, are also offered to parents.

Ms Nash said she was happy to be able to help local parents.

"It's an extra moment of beauty with dressing their baby," she said.

"It's the gift of time."