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Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

© Karen Cabiac

I was speaking with a friend the other day and we were exchanging "tales" of pregnancy and early parenthood. I new that it was normal to have "anxiety" about the upcoming birth of my child. "Would the baby be healthy?", was always the biggest worry. However, I found that the worry did not end once my child was born, quite the opposite, I was definitely relieved (as each child was born) that my new baby had the proper number of fingers and toes. However, I found that I worried about so many other things, not the least of which was if I was capable of being a good parent. Along with this I found that I often worried that my child would just "disappear". I don't know if the worry stemmed from a fear of kidnapping, death, or just a disbelief that my child had finally arrived.

I am very thankful that I have been blessed with healthy, happy children with, so far, not too many mishaps. A broken arm here, a few stitches there, a broken rib (high school wrestling injury). What I cannot imagine having to endure is the loss of a child. The parents and family members of babies who have succumbed to SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) or Cot-death as I have learned it is referred to in British speaking countries, have quite a lot to deal with. SIDS affects people all over the world and in every socio-economic class. There is, as yet, no known cause or cure. SIDS affects infants from bith to 1 year of age. An autopsy is often done to rule out other causes of death.

According to the National Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Resource Center (NSRC), SIDS affects more males than females and that more deaths are reported in the fall and winter months. There are some conditions which researchers feel may help prevent SIDS. There has been a push for the "Back to Sleep" campaign, in which parents are urged to put children on their backs for sleeping. The children should be sleeping on a mattress with no pillow. There are many theories as to why this position is better than others but there has been a definite reduction in SIDS deaths since the inception of parent education. Parents are also encouraged to avoid cigarette smoke (and smoking) before and after the baby's birth. There is some question yet as to whether or not breast feeding as opposed to bottle feeding has any impact on the rate of SIDS deaths.

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