Volunteer cuddlers provide a calming touch for babies

By ANDY CASTILLO

Recorder Staff

Published: 02-17-2017 10:48 PM

GREENFIELD — A rocking chair is prominent inside Baystate Franklin Medical Center’s birthing center — that’s where volunteer cuddlers provide human touch, which some mother’s aren’t able to give.

Linda Jablonski, assistant manager of obstetrics, said sometimes new mothers can’t be with their newborns and can’t provide physical contact, which is important in a newborn’s development. Jablonski said cuddlers don’t replace mothers, adding, “we try to keep the moms and babies together, but once in a while, moms have to leave for either a short or long period of time.”

When that happens, one of the Cuddler Program’s 40 volunteers — including South Deerfield resident Mark Pichette, a retired postmaster — come to the hospital and cuddle them. Pichette said he’s come in as early as 6 a.m. and left as late as 11 p.m. He also volunteered this past Thanksgiving Day.

“It’s amazing how the community has embraced the program,” Jablonski said, noting a rocking chair donated by Andy’s and The Oak Shoppe, and a seat covering given by The Textile Co.

According to Jablonski, some babies in the program have neonatal abstinence syndrome, or physical withdrawals. The syndrome develops in about 40 percent of babies who’ve been exposed to opioids during pregnancy.

“You talk with them, you sing to them, you pray for them, put them against your chest; they just calm down,” Pichette said Thursday. “It’s very rewarding. You make a difference. We’re talking about a baby’s development.”

Jablonski noted neonatal abstinence syndrome is not the same as addiction, which has a psychological aspect to it.

“A lot of people get this vision of babies screaming in the nursery — that’s not what happens,” Jablonski continued. The reason why cuddlers are needed is because “sometimes, moms aren’t strong in their recovery.”

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The EMPOWER Program was created around 2012 in response to increasingly high rates of Franklin County babies with neonatal abstinence syndrome. Last year, there were a dozen. As of 2014, the rate was about double the state average, which is more than three times the national average, based on a statement from Baystate Medical Center Spokesman Brendan Monahan.

Cuddlers also get a lot out of the volunteer work, said Volunteer Coordinator Becky George.

“One of our cuddlers (Nancy Swanson), was so moved by the program she got training and certification to be a foster parent,” George said.

In total, the local hospital has about 320 volunteers. For those interested in volunteering or for more information, call 413-773-2318. Baystate Medical Center in Springfield also has a cuddler program.

You can reach Andy Castillo

at: acastillo@recorder.com

or 413-772-0261, ext. 263

On Twitter: @AndyCCastillo

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