A group of Border women who have shared the grief of losing a baby have raised money for a “cuddle cot” at Wodonga maternity ward to make life a little easier for those who face the same sort of pain.

The cot, worth $4500, has a special cooling mat that allows newborn babies who have died to remain in the mother’s room rather than be sent to the mortuary.

Wodonga midwife Abby Cooper welcomed the donation, saying mother’s were in a fog after the loss of their baby.

“Memories like this mean everything because they are leaving the hospital with empty arms,” she said.

The group raised $2000 towards the cot through its Facebook page, raffles and entrance fees from Albury’s Little Me Market.

The remainder was donated by the Belvoir Wodonga Rotary Club.

Rotary club president Andrew Williams said its members were happy to donate funds.

Border Baby and Pregnancy Loss support president Sara Bayliss thanked the community for its support.

“The cot means a lot, we just wish it was here sooner,” she said.