Sue Bradshaw and Kristy Wiegele with Melville Rotary Community Service director Jacqueline Heron.
Camera IconSue Bradshaw and Kristy Wiegele with Melville Rotary Community Service director Jacqueline Heron. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Cots offer comfort

Emma ClaytonMelville Gazette

In a bid to provide greater support for these families, St John of God midwife Kristy Wiegele is on a mission to provide a Cold Cuddle Cot for every hospital in WA.

The cot circulates cool air underneath to allow parents to spend more time with their stillborn babies.

With six babies stillborn in Australia every day, Ms Wiegele is a strong advocate for providing as much support and care as possible to help grieving parents.

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In partnership with Melville Rotary Club, she presented another cot to St John of God Murdoch Hospital on Tuesday, July 7.

Kristy's initial fundraising efforts, through the Facebook page A Midwife's Gift, raised $4000 for the purchase of a Cold Cuddle Cot, which she donated to St John of God Mt Lawley Hospital.

St John of God Murdoch Hospital midwifery manager Sue Bradshaw said the cots gave parents a chance to bond, grieve and create memories.

Ms Wiegele has raised more than $45,000 since August 2014 and handed over cots to six maternity hospitals.

She also won the Consumer Appreciation Award at the 2015 WA Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards.

St John of God Murdoch chief executive John Fogarty welcomed the donation.

"This hospital has looked after mothers, babies and families for more than 20 years, and we are proud to have caregivers such as Kristy," he said.

To donate, visit Kristy's FaceBook page "A Midwife's Gift".