Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is a frightening fear for
most mothers. SIDS is often referred to as crib death, and is
the sudden death of an infant who stops breathing. It is rare,
affecting less than 2 in 1000 infants in the US, but the fear of
it plagues all new mothers.
Who needs to be worried? SIDS was once thought of as random,
striking healthy babies, which made it all the more frightening.
But, in reality, there are some things that can indicate that a
baby is at a higher risk for SIDS. The first is any baby that
has previously had an episode where he has turned blue or had to
have breathing revived. Premature or low birthweight babies are
more susceptible. In addition, mothers who have had poor
prenatal care or smoked during pregnancy are more likely to have
a child with SIDS. Children with diagnosed heart or lung
conditions are also at risk, and boys are more susceptible than
girls.
So, what do I do? First and foremost, take care of yourself
during pregnancy and don't smoke. Have regular prenatal doctor's
visits, and follow your doctor's recommendations. Secondly, put
your newborn to sleep on his back, or his side. There does seem
to be a connection between SIDS and babies who sleep on their
stomachs, particularly if they sleep on a soft mattress. Don't
put unnecessary items, even blankets in the crib with the baby,
and don't let him get overheated. Learn infant CPR - so you are
prepared in the event you need to resuscitate your child.
What if my baby has had an episode? If your child has an episode
- stops breathing or turns blue, notify your doctor immediately,
even though you were able to revive him. Your doctor will want
to run tests, and, if he fears that the baby is likely to have
another episode (though 95% do not) he might suggest a monitor
for the baby. These monitors will alert you in the event the
baby stops breathing, but are only used in high risk situations.
The monitors are quite cumbersome, and tend to have lots of
false alarms, making Moms even crazier.
When Can I Stop Worrying? The threat of SIDS is over once your
child reaches his first birthday, and declines dramatically once
he is six months old. In fact, most SIDS deaths happen between
the ages of two and four months. Take some precautions, but
unless your baby has an elevated risk, remember that SIDS is
actually rare, and is not something to obsess over.
About the author:
Sarah is a 41 year old wife and mother of two boys and one girl.
She spent many years as a manager in the corporate world, and
gave it up to be a stay at home mom.
Click here now and
get her incredible baby minicourse - absolutely free.
