Three-day-old baby girl died after parents fell asleep during breastfeed in bed as mum pays heartbreaking tribute

A THREE-day-old baby girl died after her parents fell asleep as she was breastfed in bed.

Luna Atkins' mum paid a heartbreaking tribute to her today, calling the youngster a "perfect little angel".


The baby girl had only been home for a few hours when she died.

An inquest heard her exhausted parents Philippa Atkins, 34, and James Atkins, 35, had fallen asleep while feeding Luna in bed around 9.30pm.

But her mother woke four hours later to discover Luna was "unresponsive" and was declared dead by paramedics 50 minutes later.

Heartbroken mum Philippa is now fundraising to help other children – and described Luna as "our beautiful baby" and "our perfect little girl."

She said: "Luna has taught me life is too short and too precious! We owe it to her to fill the world with more music and more joy.

"So if you ever think you can’t, look up at the moon, and my baby will show you that the world is good and you are loved!

"I got to carry Luna for 9 months, and hold her for nearly 3 days. I knew my daughter and she was good! She has given me the strength to believe in myself and strive to make the world a better place.

"Whatever you have been through, I am always here for you as you are there for me. As things start to go back to ‘normal’ let’s strive to make it better.

"Let’s laugh more and sing more. Let’s never forget the tragedies of the last few months, and let’s remember those we have lost in the best possible way."

TRAGIC DEATH

Luna was born two weeks premature on May 9, at 37 weeks by emergency Cesarean section. She was discharged from the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff two days later around 5pm after doctors decided she was strong enough to return home with her parents.

A statement from police given to the inquest said: "Luna was breastfed at around 9.30pm. Both parents fell asleep while she was feeding.

"Mum woke at around 1.30am on May 12 to find Luna unresponsive. CPR was commenced by family and paramedics who attended."

Luna was declared dead at around 2.20am at their home in Roath, Cardiff.

A post-mortem examination was carried out but the cause of death was recorded as "unascertained".

At the short hearing in Pontypridd, coroner Graeme Hughes said: "It remains for me to pass on my own condolences to Luna's family".

A final hearing is scheduled to take place on July 27, next year at 10am.

Philippa is now planning a half marathon in honour of Luna and other children by raising money for the Martha's Dancing Heart appeal to raise money for the Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust.

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