A Cuddle Cot is designed for the families of stillborn babies to allow them time to grieve and reconcile their loss.
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The Queanbeyan Hospital maternity unit is the latest to be donated a Cuddle Cot by the Emerikus Land Foundation.
The cot is fitted with an electrical unit and insulated cold blanket that slows down the natural process of deterioration so that babies don’t need to be rushed away to the mortuary.
The $4500 piece of equipment gives bereaved families longer to cuddle their babies and reconcile their loss.
Queanbeyan midwives received a lesson in its use from Sherri-Leigh Land, who has raised funds to donate Cuddle Cots since having a stillborn daughter Emerikus three years ago.
Ms Land and her husband Ben are aiming to donate a Cuddle Cot to every hospital in Australia.
"It's something that I wish I could have had," Ms Land said.
Ms Land and her husband Ben offer more than the cuddle cots to support grieving mothers.
Along with it comes a box of keepsakes, including two blankets—one for baby and one to take home— a washer, scented candles, massage oil, tissues, and other donated items to hold on to when the baby has gone, such as a journal , photo frame, angel ornament and teddy bear.
“Hopefully together we can help make those darkest hours of families lives that little bit better,” Ms Land said.
