The Invaluable Gift of Time… Commemorating Bella Margaret

My name is Christina myself, my partner, and 5-year-old daughter were expecting to be induced on Monday April 15th, 2024 and greet our beautiful baby girl ‘Bella Margaret’.

On April 11, 2024, I went into the hospital for a regular check up because I had experienced decreased fetal movement, this was not unusual for me to stop in for a check due to decreased fetal movement as I was having some increased anxiety with this pregnancy; on that day everything changed in moment. I was informed that they were not able to find Bella’s heartbeat. 

On April 12, 2024 at 2:39 am at 38 weeks 3 days pregnant I gave birth to Bella -stillborn. Bella was beautiful weighing 5lbs 15oz and our hearts was irreparably broken.

By biggest wish was for more time – More time to hold her, more time to talk to her, more time to tell her how loved she was and to tell her about the hopes and dreams we had for our sweet girl, but when you birth a stillborn the unfortunate reality is that time is limited and truthfully there will NEVER be enough time.

Since this experience I have learned that there is a way to provide more time, something I had begged for and while there will never ever be enough time just a little more could allow more time to grieve, make memories, allow loved ones to visit, and time to process the loss.

My hope is to raise money to purchase a ‘Cuddle Cot’ or similar product to donate to our local hospital in Bella’s name to be able to provide other families that have to endure this terrible loss with the gift of time. My hope would be to provide the hospital with two 'Cuddle Cots' however the main goal is to raise enough money to purchase one and any funds beyond what is needed to purchase one would go towards staff training on the use and maintenance of the device, and towards memory boxes for the hospital to provide grieving families.

What is a Cuddle Cot?

The CuddleCot is a small, portable, lightweight unit that enables families experiencing the loss of their baby at any age or gestation to spend more time with them and enables more time to create memories.

The baby is placed on top of the mat which is continually cooled and direct contact with the mat ensures that baby remains cool too. Keeping baby cool extends the time before changes and signs of deterioration commence. Families can have as long as they wish with their baby