AP12627

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome  Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is a condition whereby an apparently healthy baby dies unexpectedly, according to Mayo Clinic’s website on Diseases and Conditions. The condition manifests itself when a baby stops breathing while it is asleep. Mayo’s web page has sections on causes (physical and sleeping factors), risk factors (hereditary and issues a mother may encounter), prevention, and coping/support when a baby dies from this syndrome. Each of these areas provide information of SIDS and gives helpful suggestions in trying to prevent this from occurring. Physical and Sleeping factors  : Brain abnormalities – the section of the brain that maintains breathing and waking from sleep doesn’t function in an appropriate manner  : Low birth weight – a premature baby’s brain isn’t fully matured and is unable to control involuntary reactions – such as breathing and heart actions  : Respiratory infections – colds can lead to breathing issues and this could be a possible reason for the baby to succumb to SIDS.

Sleeping factors

 : Placing a baby on its stomach or side and the baby being unable to turn on its back  : Soft surfaces can cause a baby to roll over and block its airway  : Being in the same bed with parents – parents can roll over in sleep and smother a child

Risk factors

 : Sex, age, race, family history, secondhand smoke, and being premature  : Mother’s age, cigarette use, drinking, using illicit drugs, inadequate medical care during pregnancy

Preventative measures:

 : Putting the baby on its back  ; Ensure the crib has nothing that will interfere with the baby’s breathing <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> : Keep the baby comfortable – don’t place too many covers on the baby as these could hamper the breathing <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> : Babies should sleep by themselves so that no one will smother the baby by accident

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Coping and support

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> : Support groups exist for parents that have lost babies to SIDS <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> : Talk about what you are experiencing – a counselor can help with this <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> : Healing is an individual phenomena – take time to allow all stages of grief to occur during this difficult period

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> SIDS is a traumatic event for everyone involved. The parents are devastated with the loss of their baby. Doctors are at a loss in giving a definitive reason why the baby succumbed to the syndrome. Family and friends are unsure of how to help/assist the parents with their loss. Guilt can be overwhelming. In most cases, there isn’t a definitive answer as to why the baby died. Counseling is one way in which parents, families, and friends can talk about how they are coping and counselors can give concrete methods in processing this terrible event in their lives.

References:

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,mono; font-size: 12px;">"Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)." //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,mono; font-size: 12px;">Mayo Clinic //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,mono; font-size: 12px;">. n.p., n.d. Web. 12 July 2014.

Only graders edit below this line!

Grader #1: 1405710879 Grader #2: 1406380384] Grader #3: 1406396755 Grader #4: [sign here] Grader #5: [sign here] =Grading Form= media type="custom" key="25032734"