A COUPLE who founded a charity to support parents after the loss of a baby have begun a new project.

Aimee and Ryan Conroy set up Luna’s Fund in 2018. The charity offers bereaved parents services such as counselling support, food hampers, nursery redecoration, and relaxing getaways.

The long-term goal for the fund is to own a safe haven retreat – a comfortable space for families to grieve, to remember and to create new memories.

In 2019, Aimee and Ryan welcomed their son Story Raine into the world. On the Luna’s Fund website, Aimee has described the overwhelming mixture of emotions that expectant parents can feel when they become pregnant again after the loss of a child.

The blessing of pregnancy can be tinged with worry and grief.

“It’s a very difficult time for many reasons and it’s completely normal to feel lost,” she said.

“You aren’t in either one of the two categories that you are familiar with; baby loss or ‘normal’ pregnancy groups. It was a time we tried our utmost to treasure, but it was a constant battle with our own worries, doubts and anxieties.

“During the pregnancy, the time we felt happiest and most at ease was at ultrasound appointments,” Aimee continued. “So much so, that we booked monthly private scans in order to see our rainbow baby happily dancing away on the screen with our own eyes.”

While attending the clinic, the Conroys began thinking about parents who weren’t in the financial position to pay for private scans.

They have now launched the “Story Raine Project” to help parents in this position.

“We wanted to offer something tangible and invaluable – peace of mind,” said Aimee. “We are offering up to three free antenatal scans (in addition to those provided by the NHS) to parents who are carrying their rainbow baby.

“We aim to give them additional reassurance during an extremely anxious and unsettling time.” Luna’s Fund is working with the private clinic BabyBond (Ultrasound Direct SW) Plymouth & Exeter, to offer the service.

“At the clinic the partners can still attend, during the lockdown, and feel included in the journey.

“The private clinic is more in depth and intimate and you have the option of seeing the baby in 4D.

“We hope our service can help impact people’s rainbow journey positively, and take a financial burden off them. We want to spread the message to parents in this position who might not have heard of our new project.”

More details can be found www.lunasfund.com/after-loss-support