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Babies are more vulnerable to infections than older children, especially in their first few weeks. Here you will find the signs and symptoms to look out for that your baby might be unwell.
Can you tell us about Jenson?
Jenson was born on 25th October 2021, and after a difficult pregnancy with my daughter, we were so delighted for him to arrive safely. Jenson was a ray of sunshine who we all loved so dearly. In his short life he touched so many people hearts. Devastatingly, at just nine weeks old, Jenson passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on 29th December 2021. His cause of death was ‘unascertained’ which was a massively difficult thing to deal with as we didn’t have any answers as to why it happened and have to accept that we never will.
I didn’t contact The Lullaby Trust’s bereavement helpline as I just didn’t feel ready. Instead, I looked at the other support they offer, and I joined the Facebook group where I am part of a community of other bereaved parents. I’m able to listen to other people’s stories and remember that I’m not alone. This really gave me comfort.
What support did you receive from the Care of Next Infant (CONI) programme?
I accessed the CONI scheme when I had my second son, Ellis. The CONI programme supported us before and after the birth of Ellis. दूसरा बच्चा होना after losing Jenson was a mixture of emotions. We were full of both joy and fear. The health visitors were amazing. They checked his weight weekly, and provided us with a breathing monitor that set off an alarm if it doesn’t detect movement. We used this for every sleep, even an afternoon nap. This gave us some peace of mind and also meant Christian and I could get slightly more sleep. The emotional support we received through the CONI scheme was great. Just having someone there to talk to was invaluable.
What was the support like when Ellis caught an infection?
Ellis unfortunately got bronchiolitis caused by RSV, and if it hadn’t been for the CONI scheme, we wouldn’t have had the help we needed as quickly. The CONI coordinators understand how much of an added worry this was for us, and enabled us to go directly to the pediatricians where Ellis was immediately given the supportive care he needed.
Losing a baby is something nobody ever thinks would happen to them. When it does happen to you, it feels so beyond reality, and beyond anything you could ever imagine happening. It makes you feel so scared that anything could happen in the future, at any time. The CONI scheme helped us to not fear having a new baby quite so much, but instead to try to enjoy it. Your brain leads you to believe that what happened to Jenson could happen again, but CONI gives you some peace of mind that your baby is happy and healthy.
Were you ever concerned about people kissing your baby, particularly after Ellis contracted RSV?
I’d never really thought about how kisses can lead to infection for babies until after Ellis had RSV. RSV can be really serious for babies, and the guidance is now to not kiss a baby if they’re not yours. This can be a tricky thing to ask of people, as people find babies irresistible. It can be a really difficult conversation to have with loved ones, especially if you worry they might take it personally, instead of a generic rule. They may not understand that even kissing a baby when you have a cold can be enough to put them at risk. To help people understand, I sometimes reshared what professionals and charities like The Lullaby Trust posted on social media after Ellis became poorly. This way it wasn’t coming from me directly, but I was still getting my point across!
Tell me a bit about your fundraising for The Lullaby Trust
Every year since Jenson passed away, we do some fundraising on his birthday to remember him, and support The Lullaby Trust. The first year, we wanted to do something as a family that my daughter could be involved in too, so we did the Little Stars Walk which was lovely. For his last birthday, I did a skydive in Cornwall. I really enjoyed it and I wasn’t too terrified, until I was dangling out the plane door!
After losing a child, you become less scared of doing things like this. I love being able to talk about Jenson, share things about him, and keep his memory alive by doing events like this. So many people sponsored me and we managed to raise funds for such a worthy cause.
What difference did you want your donation to make?
I hope my donation will help The Lullaby Trust continue to fund research that can take us closer to understanding what causes sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and give us more answers. This research can then go on to shape the baby safety guidance that The Lullaby Trust can offer to parents and carers.
I hope the money I raised will help other families in the future. Whether this is supporting families who have suffered the loss of a baby, or helping more families access the CONI scheme. Without the support of people doing events like this, your charity wouldn’t be able to continue. An awful thing happened to me, but if I can in some way help other families, then I want to make that happen and will continue to fundraise for The Lullaby Trust in the future.
What would you say to anybody who is considering skydiving for The Lullaby Trust?
Do it. You won’t regret it. Skydiving will be one of the best things you’ve ever done. Experience something amazing. Life is too short.
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CONI कार्यक्रम के बारे में
The Care of Next Infant (CONI) programme supports bereaved families before and after the birth of their new baby, giving hundreds of families peace of mind and support.
धन उगाहने की घटनाएँ और चुनौतियाँ
We’ve got a superb range of running, cycling, walking and other challenge events that are ready for you to conquer. They’re a fantastic way to raise money, get fitter and have lots of fun.
बेबी चेक ऐप
Our Baby Check app gives you peace of mind, in your pocket. If your baby is under six months of age, you can use the Baby Check app to find out if they need to see a health professional.
You can support people like Katie
Donate today and your kindness will empower families with trusted and life-saving baby safety advice, as well as providing a supportive space for anyone who has experienced the the sudden or unexpected death of a baby or infant.