A devastated mum awoke to find her three-day-old baby dead in bed next to her on her first night at home, an inquest has heard.

Philippa Atkins, 34, said her ‘perfect little girl’ Luna ‘taught her life is too short and too precious’ when she died in May 2020.

Pathologists said the reason behind the tragedy could not be determined, while a coroner said the co-sleeping was not to blame.

Luna was born two weeks premature by an emergency C-section at the University Hospital of Wales on May 9.

She ‘appeared healthy and bright’ when medics discharged her two days later.

The newborn was breastfed before Mrs Atkins, 34, and husband James, 35, fell asleep at 9.30pm at their house in Cardiff.

But tragedy struck when the new mother awoke at 1.30am to find her daughter ‘unresponsive’. She was declared dead 50 minutes later.

The new parents had enjoyed a ‘celebratory glass of prosecco’ before going to bed, a previous hearing was told.

There was no suggestion of any alcohol at all in the blood samples they provided, South Wales Central Coroner David Regan said this week.

The couple did not smoke and their home ‘was clean and tidy’ with ‘plenty of fresh food in the fridge’.

Saying he had ‘no concerns’ regarding Luna’s parents’ behaviour, Mr Regan said: ‘Her parents made the choice she could co-sleep with them – that is a choice clearly available to parents. It’s a choice they felt was in Luna’s best interests…

‘It seems to me there is absolutely no evidence at all that co-sleeping was contributive of Luna’s death.’

A conclusion of unascertained natural causes was given at the inquest.

Recruitment company worker Mrs Atkins is fundraising money for the Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust after her ‘beautiful’ baby’s passing.

She said: ‘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.’

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