Bereaved mother donates specialist cot to Bristol hospital

Olivia Cadwallader (third from right) raised money for the new CuddleCot in memory of her daughter, Amelia

A mother whose baby was stillborn says a special cot which allows parents time with their baby after they have died helped her process her loss.

Olivia Cadwallader was 36 weeks pregnant when she stopped feeling any movement from her baby, Amelia.

She has now raised £2,000 to fund a new cot for a Bristol hospital so other parents can also benefit.

"It gave us a couple of days extra with Amelia to make memories," said Ms Cadwallader.

'Heartbreaking'

The CuddleCot, which preserves the baby's body, has been donated to St Michael's Hospital, where Ms Cadwallader, who lives in Whitchurch, was cared for.

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She said: "It was heartbreaking because we had everything ready for her arrival.

"I kept thinking she would prove everybody wrong and she would come out screaming like every baby does, but there was no sound. It was hard."

Olivia Cadwallader hopes other parents processing their loss will now also benefit from the cot

Ms Cadwallader encouraged her friends to take part in a sponsored walk from Bristol to Clevedon to raise money for the CuddleCot.

"I did say it was going to take roughly about five to six hours, ten and a half hours later we made it back to Bristol," she said.

"But it was a fun day. Everyone was aching, everyone was brilliant."

The cot works by gently cooling the baby's body, which slows down the natural changes that occur after death.

Its makers say research has shown spending time with the baby can help parents come to terms with their loss and provide them with closure.

'Forever loved'

Lead bereavement midwife at the hospital, Elle Franks, said it means families can hold and bathe their babies.

"Families can hug their babies and spend time with them, with them looking very similar to how they were at birth," she said.

Ms Cadwallader said the cot gave her and other family members time to "create memories" with Amelia.

"All family came in to see her... and we had her hand prints and feet prints done, it was nice," she said.

"I think about her every day. She's forever missed and forever loved."