Cuddling for a Cause

Details: Created on Friday, 01 May 2015 15:52; Written by Ryan Jenot

ST. JOHNSBURY- A program that is fairly new is gaining a lot of attention from retired nurses, retired social workers, grandfathers, and grandmothers. In January, Pat Forest of the Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital was contacted by a woman who asked if they had a baby cuddling program and if she could be a baby cuddler. Unfortunately, no program existed.

Forest then reached out to Director of Birth Center Services, Mindy Warren, to see if she might be interested in starting a program. According to Forest, the program was already part of a plan for the department.

"It just kind of all fell in place," Forest said. "And one of the first calls that I made was to this woman who asked if she could be a baby cuddler, and she is one of the baby cuddlers now."

The program kicked off in early April with 20 volunteers signed up and another 12 having to be placed on a waiting list. The primary goal of the baby cuddler program is to have volunteers care for infants that have been exposed to opiates during pregnancy. Each infant must remain at the hospital and be observed by staff for 4-7 days after birth. This waiting period is set because because the hospital staff wants to determine if the infant is experiencing any symptoms of neonatal abstinence syndrome.

"What we've learned about these babies is that the more that they can be held and cuddled and rocked, the better that they will actually do the symptoms," said Warren.

At NVRH, the baby cuddling program has been used for just one baby, but according to an anonomyous volunteer, the time was well spent.

"My experience was very pleasurable," said the volunteer. "[I] cuddled that beautiful baby for almost 4 hours- talked to him, sang all the songs I could think of and just enjoyed the moments. [I] had a very nice time."

According to Warren, the baby was rocked and cuddled for close to 48 hours.

Eventually, the goal is to expand the program, but only when the time is right. NVRH is always looking for volunteers and those interseted should contact Pat Forest at 802-748-8141.