Testimonial: Féileacáin & CuddleCot project
Find below the testimonial by Brian Roche, Development Officer at Féileacáin and bereaved parent.
“Féileacáin (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Association of Ireland – SANDAI) is a not-for-profit organisation (CHY – 19635) that aims to offer support to anyone affected by the death of a baby during pregnancy or shortly after. The organisation was formed by a group of bereaved parents who supported each other after the death of their own babies and have now come together to formally offer support to other parents and families who find themselves in a similar situation.
In July 2012, we began the roll out of the Flexmort CuddleCot Project which provided a CuddleCot unit to each of the maternity hospitals across the Republic of Ireland. The response from parents who used the first few CuddleCot systems was incredibly positive and so, within a few short months, we were happy to provide 18 hospitals with the system, and are happy to report that the number is growing. Our objective is to provide each hospital in the country with a CuddleCot for use by bereaved parents.
As most people are aware, the appearance of deceased babies changes very rapidly (sometimes within a couple of hours), and the CuddleCot significantly slows this process, allowing bereaved parents the time they need with their baby. By cooling the baby, the parents are given the gift of time with their child, which has greatly assisted parents in forming cherished memories during this most traumatic time.
The CuddleCot is also very useful in situations where mothers could not see their babies immediately due to medical procedures and so on. The CuddleCot also meant that relatives, such as grandparents, can visit the whole family especially if they have some distance to travel. It has even allowed some parents time to arrange a photographer to take pictures of the family and the photographers are always impressed with how well the CuddleCot has looked after the baby. This is very important for some parents who otherwise may not have the opportunity to take family photos at this time.
We understand that the CuddleCot is a new concept in other countries and are happy to share our incredibly positive experience with the system. The system is easy to use and can simply be switched on and left to function. The CuddleCot has certainly assisted Irish families bereaved through stillbirth and neonatal death and we would encourage other charities and hospitals to seriously consider its use. Spending time with a deceased child can greatly aid the grieving process and the use of a CuddleCot is a valuable resource in supporting this situation.”