Newborn baby died while being breastfed in bed

A three-day-old baby died just hours after returning home from hospital while she was being breastfed in bed by her mum.

Luna Atkins, from Cardiff, was born two weeks premature and had been discharged that day after doctors deemed her strong enough.

An inquest heard her parents Philippa Atkins, 34, and James Atkins, 35, had a ‘celebratory glass of prosecco before retiring to bed’.

Philippa, who works for a recruitment company, began breastfeeding Luna at around 9.30pm but both exhausted parents fell asleep.

Her mother woke four hours later to find Luna ‘unresponsive’ and she was declared dead by paramedics 50 minutes later.

Luna was born on May 9 at 37 weeks by emergency cesarean section, and was discharged from the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff two days later around 5pm.

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.

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 nine months, and hold her for nearly three 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.’

Keen runner 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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