Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Becoming a new parent is like entering into the whole new world of happiness and joy. You are more and more particular about your child’s health and safety. There is nothing you would refuse to do to make sure your child gets all the comfort and the best environment. But sometimes the baby who feels to be perfectly fine passes away because of no clear reason. The most frightening outcome for any new parent is experiencing the loss of their child because of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS. It is a common cause of death of the children under the age of one.
What is SIDS?
SIDS is the sudden death of an infant and cause of which is determined after a thorough investigation. It occurs suddenly with no sign of illness and usually occurs when the child is asleep. Strangely, the cause of SIDS is unknown. Doctors are still trying to find out what happens when a baby dies from SIDS. There are some of the precautions that can be taken into consideration during the first few months of a baby. But the matter of the fact remains unknown to the doctors.
The number of SIDS death have dropped with the help of safe sleep practices but the statistics are still shocking. In 2017, 1400 deaths were reported due to SIDS. infants are more vulnerable from second to fourth months after birth. According to the Center for Disease Control, SIDS happen due to accidental suffocation in a sleeping environment and other deaths from unknown causes.
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Prevention
Unfortunately, SIDS cannot be prevented 100% but there are a few factors that can be taken care of to make sure you perform your bit in protecting your child from SIDS:-
- Making babies sleep on their backs
- Firm mattresses in the cribs or beds.
- No bumpers, blankets, positioners
- Don’t use breastfeeding pillows to prop baby up
- Avoid heaters in the room where the baby is asleep
- Uncover your baby’s head during sleep
- Room sharing is fine but bed-sharing is not
- Don’t let a baby sleep in a swing with not being looked after by an adult
The risk of SIDS can also be avoided by proper immunization, healthy breastfeeding, and good prenatal care. Some infants have been reported with unexpected changes in breathing, appearance or behavior before they died of SIDS. it is important to quickly rush to a doctor as one notices such signs in their sleeping infants.
SIDSCoping with the Death of the Baby
The death of one’s baby can be an overwhelming experience with the feeling of anger, numbness, shock, disbelief, and emptiness engulfing the parents. It is difficult for any parent to lose their infant this way. It is hard to come out of that grief of the child they have tied their hopes to. However, grief might not go away entirely. But the suffering parents need support from the people around and need the motivation to live again and think of the future. Counseling might be helpful in coping with the loss.
Planning to have a child again with a positive mindset is one important thing to think about. Spiritual support can also be taken in order to calm oneself and making new beginnings. The death of a child is a devastating experience in which emotional support is of the utmost importance throughout the whole grieving and healing process. It is important to make the grieving parents feel that they are not alone and that there is always a ray of hope after darkness.
Also Read: Why Is My New Born Baby Small In Size?
