All About SIDS by Yasmin Kareem

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), sometimes known as “cot death” – is the sudden, unexpected and unexplained death of an apparently healthy baby. As frightening as it sounds, it is a tragedy that not many new mums know about.

In the UK, more than 200 babies die suddenly and unexpectedly every year. This statistic may sound alarming, but SIDS is rare and the risk of your baby dying from it is low. Most deaths happen during the first 6 months of a baby’s life. Infants born prematurely or with a low birthweight are at greater risk.

What causes SIDS?

The exact cause of SIDS is unknown, but it’s thought to be down to a combination of things. Experts believe SIDS occurs at a particular stage in a baby’s development and that it affects babies vulnerable to certain environmental stresses.

This vulnerability may be caused by being born prematurely or having a low birthweight, or because of other reasons that have not been identified yet. 

Environmental stresses could include tobacco smoke, getting tangled in bedding, a minor illness or a breathing obstruction. There’s also an association between co-sleeping (sleeping with your baby on a bed, sofa or chair) and SIDS.

Babies who die of SIDS are thought to have problems in the way they respond to these stresses and how they regulate their heart rate, breathing and temperature.

Who’s At Risk?

Although the cause of SIDS is not completely understood, there are a number of things you can do to reduce the risk, such as;

To Prevent SIDS Do Not;

We want more mamas to be aware and know about SIDS, even though there’s a very low chance of it happening to your new-born, it’s important and helpful to educate one another. If you’ve been affected by SIDS then visit the NHS website to find ways to get support. 

 

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