Freeman Launches Cuddle Program At NICU

Freeman Health System has a brand new program that you’ll be excited about. It’s a perfect opportunity for empty-nesters, retirees and grandparents. They unveiled the Cuddler Program where volunteers hold and rock the babies in the NICU. Sarah Wall was one of the first to sign up.

“It was time for me to give back a little bit. When this program came open, I was like ‘I wanna be onboard.’ It’s two hours a week, and what better way to start your week, because I do it on Sunday evenings, is to cuddle babies for two hours.”

“Babies in the NICU are our most fragile patients, and we’re proud of the care they receive,” said Paula F. Baker, Freeman President and Chief Executive Officer.

The Program was announced Tuesday, but the first group of Cuddlers are already in place. They began their shifts in November.

“Our volunteer Cuddlers hold babies in their arms, rock them gently, read to them and sometimes even sing to them softly, comforting them when the parents are unable to be there. Leaving a baby in the NICU, whether for one hour or for one day, is difficult for parents. The Cuddler volunteers help bridge that gap with a soothing embrace.” said Baker.

Freeman Nurse Karen Graham was inspired to bring this program to Freeman after one of her grandchildren, who was born in the NICU at a different hospital, and she discovered that the baby in the room next to his had not had a visitor in 58 days, from there she set herself on a mission to bring it to her hometown of Joplin.

Requirements to become a volunteer Cuddler include: interview and selection, background check, drug screen, physical, immunizations/titers and flu shots. They have onboarding with them Cuddler Coordinator, Volunteer Services Program Manager and NICU nurses. They are trained in safety, confidentiality, infection prevention and control, and the NICU handwashing protocol.

The Cuddlers do not feed, change or get up and walk with infants, but offer the comfort of loving arms and calming voices.