“The thought of these mothers having an opportunity to keep their infants at the bedside as long as they want was incredible” – Heather Rodriguez, RNC
The importance of healthcare professionals voices is of vital importance to delivering quality bereavement care and raising awareness of the support available to bereaved families.
The CuddleCot gives bereaved families the gift of time to create precious memories, and make necessary arrangements after the death of a baby. The importance of time is internationally encouraged by bereavement teams and academics in continuing bonds after grief, and can help grieving families during such a difficult time.
Heather Rodriguez, RNC spoke to us about how she first heard of the CuddleCot and the difference it makes to bereaved parents and nurses in her team.
“My name is Heather Rodriguez, RNC, I am the Bereavement Coordinator of the Birthing Center here at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital. I have been an L&D nurse for almost 30 years. I worked in the Texas Medical Center for 15 years of my career. All in Labor & Delivery. I currently work as a Transition/NICU nurse in Labor & Delivery and attend the deliveries on our unit. I have been at Methodist Sugar Land for over 12 years now. “
“In all of these years as a nurse, I had never heard of a CuddleCot before. But, when Brittney Kemp, CRNA, one of the founders of MOHA approached me about her program and the CuddleCot, I was on board right away. The thought of these mothers having an opportunity to keep their infants at the bedside as long as they want was incredible.”
“In 2021 we had our CuddleCot donated to our Birthing Center by MOHA (Mothers of Held Angels). This is a Non-profit bereavement group for mothers and their families. They will come to the unit and spend time with the mothers and their families and offer support at the bedside, while in the hospital, they also offer a podcast as well as monthly in person meetings. They have a website: wwwMOHAnetwork.org, with lots of helpful information for US mothers, husbands, families, and their friends for support after a loss.”
“In December of 2021, we had a couple who was coming in to delivery her infant that was diagnosed with multiple anomalies. We had them come in prior to their admission to meet with our Palliative Care team which also included Brittney with MOHA. They were offered the Cuddle Cot during their stay, and were the first to utilize the Cuddle Cot on our unit. This enabled them to spend that precious time with their baby. This is just one story.
I have many, many more stories.
These families come in and think that after they deliver, they have to send their baby away soon after birth. This device allows these parents and families to spend as much time as possible with their baby to make those memories.
“I feel that every Labor & Delivery unit should have one on their unit. This device has made such a difference to these families and our nurses.”
Heather Rodriguez RN, RNC-OB, L&D/Nursery, Bereavement Coordinator
Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, Childbirth Center
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