A MUM is trying to raise awareness of infections in newborn babies after her baby boy died at just three days old.

Emily Rawlings, 20, of Upper Bridge Street, Pontypool, and her family, were left devastated when she discovered baby Harry James Rawlings had died on January 23.

Miss Rawlings said she just froze when she realised Harry had stopped breathing and she called out to her parents, who she lives with, to help.

A post-mortem examination on Harry¹s body found he died of Group B Strep, which is the most common form of life-threatening infection in newborn babies.

But although 700 babies are affected by GBS a year, 75 die from the infection and 40 will be left with long-term health problems.

Miss Rawlings has just taken part in a five-mile sponsored walk in memory of her son and she hopes to promote awareness of the killer infection.

Miss Rawlings now hopes to raise as much money as possible for Group B Strep Support.

Emily organised the walk from The Crown Hotel in Varteg to Pontypool Park.

Around 25 people took part in the walk.

"It was a brilliant day, absolutely fantastic. I'm so pleased we did it," said Miss Rawlings.

She encountered problems throughout her pregnancy but this was put down to dehydration.

On January 20 Harry James was born at home.

Miss Rawlings said: "Despite the complications with the pregnancy he was fine. But he didn¹t take much feed and was very difficult to settle down.

"He died on the Sunday morning of January 23. I completely froze. I didn't know what to do."

The sponsored walk raised £215 on the day for Group B Strep Support and Miss Rawlings hopes to raise more than £1,200 when she receives all the sponsorship money, which is due in by Saturday, August 13.

She will also be holding a fundraising day on August 27 at Talywain RFC between 10am and 4pm.

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