Back in February I attended a wonderful Save The Children Bloggers Conference
Save The Children are an amazing charity
Doing great things for children around the world
Save The Children are a charity I am proud to support
It was the reason I went to the conference
To learn more about how someone like me
Could get involved and make a difference
I came away feeling inspired and motivated
Wanting to be involved
But I had not realised how the day would affect me emotionally
And it did, it really did
No child is born to die
But children do
And when one of them is yours
It makes things like this really tough to be involved with
And yet, I have a voice that I can use
To try and ensure that someone else’s baby does not die
Today my beautiful friend Merry and the equally lovely and inspirational Chris Mosler
Went to Downing Street
With a petition signed by over 18,000 people
A petition to say
Did you know that newborn deaths around the world are stalling
The number of babies dying is not falling
More needs to be done to protect babies in their first 28 days
Around the world more needs to be done
2.9 million babies a year never reach their second month of life
1 MILLION BABIES A YEAR DON’T LIVE TO SEE THEIR SECOND DAY
1 MILLION BABIES EVERY YEAR DIE ON THEIR VERY FIRST DAY
FOR 1 MILLION BABIES AROUND THE WORLD THEIR FIRST DAY IS ALSO THEIR LAST
Save The Children launched a campaign in February 2014
I have been following the campaign
I have donated what I can
But I have not felt able to write about it yet
Because I have held a dead baby in my arms
I have held my own dead baby in my arms
I know too many babies whose first day was their last
Too many families who know that pain
That fear
That loss
But I know this is important
I know that a difference can be made
And I know that I would like to play my part
However small that might be
And today seeing my beautiful friend Merry
At Downing Street delivering the petition
I knew it was time for me to find my strength
To come forward with my support
For this incredibly important campaign
To come forward with my words
To try to help to save little lives
Nearly half of all child deaths occur in the first 28 days of life
Most of these newborn deaths are preventable
With trained and equipped midwives
Most infant deaths can be stopped
Millions of women around the world
Still give birth every year
Without the life saving support of a midwife
Save The Children want to push world leaders
To commit to a five point newborn promise
More than 18000 people agree
More than 18000 people have signed the petition
Saying that we want to see something done
Save The Children want to ensure
That by 2025 every baby is born
With the life saving help of a trained and equipped midwife
Basic medical equipment is all that is needed to save these tiny lives
Antiseptic
Antibiotics
Resuscitation kits
I have seven weeks until our Rainbow Baby comes
I am anxious about the birth of our baby
And I know that I will be in good hands
In a hospital
With a midwife and a doctor on call
A neonatal intensive care unit across the corridor
I cannot imagine giving birth alone
With no support
No one to call
No one to help
Yet around the world this happens to millions of women every year
I hope that David Cameron will take notice of this campaign
The incredible inspiring work taken on by Save The Children
And their army of volunteers
I hope that I can continue to find the strength to play a small part
Even if it is donating my coffee money once in a while
It might just be enough
Alongside all the others doing the same
To save a little life
To save the children
Because no child deserves to die
No child is born to die
