Cooper University Hospital

Cooper University Hospital in Camden, NJ. is an inner-city hospital that serves the needs of a diverse financial population. A large number of the babies are born into poverty level families and to young single moms.

When a baby is ready to go home, the hospital supplies the diaper, hat and shirt the baby has on. The blanket and any other clothing is supposed to be supplied by the family. In many cases, the only going home clothing is what the hospital has received in donations.

The need at Cooper is great, so please do what you can.

I want to thank the moderators of AC4C who have chosen Cooper Hospital as their Oct. 2010 Monthly Project. Looking forward to it!!

Items are needed for the NICU, Mother/Infant unit and Labor & Delivery.

*For more information and mailing address, contact Ginden at ginnie 1st @ hotmail . com (close up spaces in address).

**To learn more about "Caring for Cooper" and to meet our great members, just click HERE!

** Upcoming delivery - Apr. - Spring/Easter"

Posted: Jan. 4, 2010

Next delivery - April - Easter is April 3rd.

NO BURIAL ITEMS NEEDED!!!

** MOST NEEDED ITEMS **

NICU:Mainly 5-7 lbs.

*Easter themed hats. 10"-12" - 12"-13" - NONE smaller than 10"!!!!!

"Every day" hats. Sizes as above

*Sweaters/sweater sets - NONE IN STOCK

*Hat bootie sets - a few in stock

*Blankets-all sizes-knit, crochet, sewn - very few in stock

*ISOLETTE BLANKETS - NONE IN STOCK

*ONESIES -preemie size - NONE IN STOCK

*Isolette cover. Directions in sewing files. NONE IN STOCK

MOTHER INFANT:

*Easter themed hats.- NEWBORN size!

"Every day" hats. Sizes as above - NONE IN STOCK

*Hug pillows/stuffing/money for stuffing

*Blankets 30" x 30" and larger

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

The NICU is a Level III facility, featuring 25 Intensive care beds,two isolation nurseries, and a nine bed transitional nursery. The unit is usually full.

They do not dress the babies, (1-3 lbs), in the NICU except for diapers, as they are on warming beds or under heat lamps. In the NICU transitional nursery the babies wear hats and diaper shirts or gowns. Patterns for these item approved for hospital use can be found here. They are marked in red.

Holiday hats, (about 4 pounds through full term, with 4 - 6 lbs the most needed), and blankets (isolette & receiving), are most welcome! They like to deck the babies out on holidays!!

Most of our gifts of clothing are given for when the babies go home.

Bright, cheerful colors and prints are welcome, as are the softer pastels. Hats and blankets of all sizes are always badly needed.


NEEDS:
Items may be sewn, knit, crocheted, or store bought

For use in the hospital :
- Hats - from 4 lb size through newborn (10" - 12" is good)
- Blankets: isolette (20" x 20"), receiving (30" x 30" and larger)

- Shirts - see below
- Gowns - see below
- Booties: 2 1/2" - 3", 3 1/2 - 4", 3 1/4" - 3 3/4".

Anything smaller is NOT used in this unit.

- Bibs for full term babies
-*Isolette covers - They can use the blanket style.
Dark fabric for the underside, thin batting in the
middle and a colorful layer of fabric for the top.
Sewing an X from corner to corner is fine. Nothing
fancy" as theses do NOT go home.
*NOTE FROM HOSPITAL:
"The isolette covers are 71 in by 53 in. They can be of any type of material.
Generally, we send our nursery laundry out to a special launderer so as they
will be a little easy on them. The more durable the material the better."
*Please tag them as isolette covers

*Hospital approved shirts & gowns:
- NICU Kimono 3-5 lbs - in sewing files on AC4C & Caring for Cooper

- Sew Young Sew Fun Gown pattern - increase width of sleeves to 3" -
in
sewing files on AC4C
& Caring for Cooper
- Overlap Preemie Gown
- in sewing files on AC4C & Caring for Cooper - edges
can be serged instead of using the stretchy binding - less costly, faster!

- Newborn gown pattern - "Bundles of Love" pattern ($)
- LDS Layette Gown - check sewing links

*Commercial patterns that are like those below
*Closures (if needed) - rounded Velcro only

NICU Kimono
"Bundles of Love" Sew Young Sew Overlap preemie
3 - 5 lbs
type gown Fun Gown gown *Photos used with permission

For going home-
Sizes: 5 lbs. through 11 lbs (5 - 7 lbs needed the most)
Hats.........................................................................Booties/socks
Crib sized blankets/quilts.......................................... Receiving blankets 30" x 30" +
Going home outfits....................................................Sweater/jacket sets
Onesies....................................................................Sleepers/gowns
Rompers...................................................................Buntings
Kimonos ...................................................................Diaper shirts
Bibs
*Just about any type of baby clothing from 5 lbs - newborn!

*See pattern links for suggestions: Sewing, Crochet, Knitting , Machine Knitting

NOT needed:
Burial items are not needed at this time.
IV caps - they have a commercial source for them
Baby care items - they have a commercial source for these items
Positioning devices - a volunteer regularly donates them
Diaper bags - given the NICU babies by the formula company
Soft toys

Mother / Infant Unit

NEEDS:
ANYTHING A BABY COULD POSSIBLY USE!
SIZE - Newborn *Request from nurse supervisor -
"Could the sizes be for newborns since so many of our parents do not have clothing to bring home?"

They prefer nothing larger than 0-3 mo. size.
They do give out larger items but their main need is for going home
Items may be sewn, knit, crocheted, or store bought

Always needed:
-also used in the hospital
Hats
Booties/socks
Crib sized blankets/quilts.......................................... Receiving blankets 30" x 30" +
Going home outfits.................................................... Sweater/jacket sets
Onesies.................................................................... Sleepers/gowns

Rompers....................................................................Buntings
Kimonos....................................................................Diaper
shirts
Bibs..........................................................................
Burp cloths
Changing/lap pads.....................................................
Washcloths
Baby bottles..............................................................Pacifiers

*Little "hug" pillows for post operative C-section moms

Little Hug Pillows
About 8" x 14"
Cotton fabric - no pillow slip needed
Stuffing

Prewash and press fabric

Cut 2 pieces per pillow - 8 1/2" x 14 1/2"

With right sides together, using 1/4" seams, sew 3 sides. Leave one short end
open for stuffing

Turn and stuff

Turn under raw edges and sew across

*Can be sent to Ginden for stuffing to cut your postal cost. If you want to throw
in a couple of dollars to help with the cost of batting, that would be great but NOT
required.


The list is really endless! ANYTHING you donate will find a loving home.

*See pattern links for suggestions: Sewing, Crochet, Knitting , Machine Knitting




Labor and Delivery Unit

The items used in this unit will be the only clothing the parents will ever be able to provide for their little ones. Please make them as special as possible.

Sizes range from the tiny early loss babies up to full term with a greater number of the smaller ones. I have been told that they never seem to have enough items for boys.

NEEDS for Spring/Easter delivery: No burial clothing needed at this time.
1. Burial wraps/buntings - sizes from tiny early loss through full term.  They also like the
little fetal demise pouches - knit, crochet or sewn

2. Burial outfits - size, same as above - The gowns do NOT have to be lined, but if you do not mind doing it, it does make them nicer. A complete layette would be a blanket, hat, booties and gown or other clothing item. Separate items can be matched up upon arrival at Ginden's home.

3. Blankets - all sizes - used when presenting the baby to parents, for final photos, and for burial. Often used when other clothing is not available.

*Please use ONLY ties in the back, not buttons or velcro. The ties make the gowns more size-adjustable and are easier to use than buttons. Be sure the gown is open all the way in the back.

*Colors: any of the soft pastels and of course, white.

*These items may be shared with the NICU, depending on need at time of delivery.
*See pattern links for suggestions:  Sewing, Crochet, Knitting , Machine Knitting 



Cooper's Babies & some of the wonderful caregivers!

A few photos of some of Cooper's Babies taken during deliveries or sent to "Caring for Cooper" by proud moms. Also, some photos of dedicated staff members in the NICU, Mother/Infant Unit and the Labor & Delivery Unit.












NICU Staff members





Mother/Infant Unit



Labor & Delivery



*Photos were taken with permission and the knowledge that they would be posted for our members to view.