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Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
CDC Says Breastfeeding and Not Smoking Could Cut SIDS Cases: In April 2001, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was reported saying that a study of 117 SIDS cases suggests that 55 percent of those cases might have been prevented if the mothers had breastfed, and another 27 percent might have been prevented if mothers had not smoked after delivery (exposing their newborns to secondhand smoke). AAP Recommends Additional Procedures in Determining Cause of Sudden Infant Death: In February, 2001, The American Academy of Pediatrics issued several new recommendations for cases of suspected Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, including a "prompt death scene investigation," postmortem examination, and collection of medical and familial history. Back sleeping: Doctors recommend that parents put healthy infants to sleep on their backs - not on their stomachs - to help prevent the tragedy of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. The reasons are twofold. Very young babies don't have the physical capability to lift their heads or roll away from a danger. Experts also say that babies take about a year to fully develop the automatic defensive reactions to an inability to breathe (such as instinctively moving their heads or removing the item blocking their faces). So if a baby sleeps on his stomach, the risk is greater that his mouth and nose will become buried (or that he will be breathing in air he has already breathed out) and he will suffocate. Visit Medem and do a search under "SIDS" for more on sleep positions. Flattened skull: However, some parents worry that if a baby is consistently placed on his back, a flattened head will result from the constant pressure placed on his still-malleable skull. In response, experts said that if the condition occurs, it isn't dangerous and doesn't last. In July 2003, however, the American Academy of Pediatrics reported an increase in the incidence of flattened skulls because of the increased emphasis on placing babies to sleep on their backs. According to the AAP, flattened skulls could be avoided by placing infants on their stomachs while they're awake, and also by shifting their heads during the night when they are put to sleep on their back. Side sleeping: Some parents suggest placing a sleeping infant on his side (propped on both sides with a supportive device or two rolled-up baby quilts or blankets). They alternate sides to ensure that the left and right sides of the skull receive equal pressure. An added benefit is that the baby may feel comforted by the blanket or supportive device snuggling him at his belly. But the American Academy of Pediatrics says there may be a slight increase in risk of SIDS with the side position - perhaps because the baby might spontaneously return to a belly position. The AAP says the risk is not as great as with tummy sleeping, but greater than with back sleeping. The AAP also doesn't recommend using supportive devices with a side-sleeping infant; instead, it says, babies can be propped on their sides using their dependent arm at a right angle and their back against the bassinet or crib. Check with your doctor and see which sleeping position is best for your baby. And if you do decide on the side position, you might want to go to a back position if you find your baby winding up on his belly or if you find the blankets getting pushed around. Report: Excessive Heat Is Risk Factor: A May 2000 report from the University of Washington School of Medicine says that overheating a baby (with too many blankets, too much clothing, or keeping the room too warm) may be an often-overlooked factor in SIDS cases. The report, published in the April 2001 edition of Pediatrics, calls for a campaign to warn the public of this preventable risk factor.
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