In March 2012, Mums Like Me® hoped to raise $4000 to fund the purchase of a Cold Cot to be used by bereaved families in hospitals and in their homes.
Our finally tally was $12,300, so we have ordered three cold cot systems, at $3,400 each! They are due to arrive in Australia in July 2012, making these the first cold cots in Australia!
A Cold Cot is a cooling system that has been designed to fit within a small cot. This effective system allows for babies who have passed way to remain with their families so that they are not required to be cooled in mortuary envirnoment.
Although a Cold Cot is a relatively new concept in Australia, these units have been used overseas by healthcare professionals and bereaved families. There are presently no known units in Australia.
Our March For Memories fundraising drive was important as spending time with your baby, is important. Parents will be able to use these unit with the knowledge that their babies body is being cared for in an appropriate manner. This is reassuring and gives 'time' back to the family.
Cold Cots enable family members to travel to visit and meet the baby, siblings to meet one another and even gives parents the option of bringing their baby home to lay in their own cot, in their own room or travel in their own carseat.
Its about giving parents choices, and reassuring them that they can spend as much time as they like with their baby, without the fear of the baby needing to be cooled in a traditionally mortuary.
