Aimee Conroy, the CEO of a charity in Devon and Cornwall, is encouraging people to engage in “hard conversations” during Baby Loss Awareness Week, which began on Wednesday.
Conroy, who founded Luna’s Fund, believes this week presents a vital opportunity for individuals to learn how to support those affected by baby loss. She emphasizes the importance of understanding what to say, what actions to take, and what to avoid.
“It’s perfectly fine to have difficult conversations, even if they feel awkward,” she stated. “Your 10 seconds of discomfort is just 1% of what that person experiences every single day.”
Sands, one of the UK’s leading charities focused on pregnancy and baby loss, organizes this awareness week to provide a safe and supportive environment for those affected by these losses.
Personal Tragedy Inspires Action
Conroy established Luna’s Fund, based in Plymouth, following her own heartbreaking experience in 2017 when she planned to have a home birth in a birthing pool. She recalled a complication during the pushing phase when her baby, Luna, became stuck.
“Eventually, she came out, but her umbilical cord had ruptured, causing her to float to the other end of the pool,” Conroy recounted. “I wasn’t attached to her anymore. Thankfully, there were four people present—two with Luna, one with me, and one managing the ambulance.”
Despite the efforts to revive Luna, Conroy described the moment as devastating. “In an instant, everything changed. It was an enormous shock.”
The weeks that followed were incredibly dark for her.
Struggles with Support
While Conroy received support through helplines and informational leaflets, she felt these resources were “far away and very distant.”
“There was a huge barrier to reaching out for help. I didn’t want to pick up the phone or ask for assistance,” she admitted. “It was a really dark time, and I wouldn’t wish that experience on anyone. That’s why I created Luna’s Fund. Now, when such a tragedy occurs, hospitals can refer families directly to us.”
Luna’s Fund provides support to families in Cornwall and Plymouth. Their services include assistance with grocery shopping, organizing relaxing getaways, and funding additional ultrasound scans during subsequent pregnancies to help ease anxiety.
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