A couple from Frome credits a social media post for saving their newborn son’s life and are now supporting a national campaign encouraging parents not to delay seeking medical help for sick babies.
This message aligns with The Lullaby Trust’s Infection Prevention Week (October 19-25), highlighting important concerns. Recent polling by Censuswide for the charity reveals that nearly one in three parents in the South West have hesitated to contact medical professionals due to worries about wasting NHS resources.
Matt and Laura Bradbury-Stewart acted quickly after watching an Instagram video from The Lullaby Trust. The video featured a bereaved mother sharing her heartbreaking experience of losing her baby to infection. Spotting the warning signs in their own son Sam—who was unusually sleepy and refusing to feed just three days after birth—they checked his temperature and found it dangerously low.
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Laura recalls, “We had only been home a few days. Sam was sleepy but feeding well, until the third day when he wouldn’t wake or take milk. Then I saw the video on The Lullaby Trust’s page. The mother described her baby having a low temperature, which made us check Sam’s.”
Upon noticing the low temperature, they immediately contacted their midwife, who advised them to head to the hospital without delay. Concerned for Sam’s breathing during the journey, they called an ambulance. At the hospital, the baby was diagnosed with breathing apneas and admitted to neonatal intensive care for a week, where he received lifesaving antibiotics.
Laura says, “Without The Lullaby Trust raising awareness about infections, I might not have checked Sam’s temperature. If sharing our story can help save another baby, it means everything to us.”
Jenny Ward, chief executive of The Lullaby Trust, emphasizes that no parental concern is too small when it comes to infant health. “Parents never waste NHS time by seeking help for their babies,” she states. “Health professionals prefer to check babies early rather than see conditions worsen due to delay.”
The trust highlights that babies’ conditions can deteriorate quickly and recommends its free Baby Check app, which helps parents evaluate symptoms and decide when to seek medical attention.
The Lullaby Trust’s Infection Prevention Week aims to empower families to seek support early, offering practical infection prevention tips and boosting confidence in speaking with healthcare providers.