Support Group Donates Cuddle Cot to GBMC

Baltimore MD

28 October, 2020

4:50 PM

Description

Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC) Labor and Delivery (L&D) unit received a generous donation of one Cuddle Cot from Stillborn And Infant Loss Support (SAILS--MD). A cuddle cot is a special cooling pad inserted into a baby basinet, which helps extend the time a bereaved family has together after the death of their infant. It helps to preserve the baby's body, so parents and loved ones can spend precious time with their child and allows families to take pictures, invite family to visit, make memorial tokens, like footprints, and make funeral preparations without being rushed. Parents usually only get a few hours to say goodbye to their infant after a stillbirth or infant loss, due to the baby's body changing due to composition. The donation of the Cuddle Cot was made by Sadija A. Smiley, MBA, Founder & CEO of SAILS-MD, in loving memory of her daughter, Ivyanna Salene, who was born sleeping at 36 weeks on November 13, 2003. "The limited amount of time spent with a stillborn baby is the only chance that a family has to make memories. The gift of extra time that the Cuddle Cot provides is invaluable," said Mrs. Smiley. "I hope that the availability of the new Cuddle Cot allows families to form a meaningful bond with their baby, whether dressing the baby, taking photographs, or only just staying close. Having a proper goodbye is crucial to a healthy grieving process." The Cuddle Cot unit, first of its kind donated to the GBMC L&D unit, usually runs around $3,000 to $5,000. "I am very grateful we will have the opportunity to give parents and families extra time with their newborn baby," said Rachel Farbman MS, RNC-OB, Nurse Manager of the Labor and Delivery unit at GBMC. "Any family that has a stillborn loss will have the chance to use the cuddle cot which will give them the opportunity to spend extra time with their baby." SAILS-MD is a nonprofit organization with a mission to provide a platform of community, mentorship, education and advocacy to families impacted by pregnancy loss or the death of a baby before their first birthday and is dedicated to raising awareness and creating a supportive environment for families, ensuring that they have a strong support network during their time of need. October has been designated as pregnancy and infant loss awareness month. According to national statistics, one in four women suffer from a pregnancy loss and one in 100 women will have a stillbirth. More than 26,000 babies are stillborn annually.