SIDS – ose fa'ama'i lilo e fa'afefe ai matua. E feoti tamaiti a o latou momoe

Fa'amatalaga fa'amaonia

SIDS is the unexplained death, usually while sleeping, of an apparently healthy child under one year of age. SIDS is sometimes called crib death because infants often die in their cribs. Although the cause is unknown, it appears that SIDS may be related to defects in the part of the infant’s brain that controls breathing and waking from sleep. Scientists have discovered certain factors that may put children at additional risk. They also identified measures that can be taken to protect their child from SIDS. Perhaps the most important thing is to get your baby to sleep on their back.

O le a le SIDS?

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden and unexplained death of a child under the age of 1 year. SIDS is also referred to as cot death, which is due to the fact that death can occur while the baby is asleep in a crib. SIDS is one of the leading causes of death in infants aged 1 month to 1 year. It usually happens between 2 and 4 months of age. SIDS and other types of infant sleep-related deaths have similar risk factors.

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What causes SIDS?

Researchers do not know the exact cause of SIDS. Research has shown that some children who die of SIDS have the following characteristics

1. Problems with the functioning of the brain

Some children with SIDS are born with abnormalities in the brain that make them vulnerable to sudden infant death. These abnormalities may be caused by exposure of the baby to toxic substances during pregnancy or a decrease in the amount of oxygen. For example, smoking during pregnancy can reduce the amount of oxygen the fetus receives. Some children have problems with the part of the brain that helps control breathing and waking up during sleep.

1. Postnatal Events

Events such as oxygen depletion, excessive carbon dioxide intake, overheating, or infection can be related to SIDS. Examples of lack of oxygen and excessive levels of carbon dioxide can include:

1. respiratory infections that cause breathing problems;
2. when babies sleep on their stomachs, they inhale exhaled air (with carbon dioxide) trapped in the sheets and sheets.

Usually, babies sense that they don’t have enough air, and their brain causes them to wake up from sleep and cry. This alters their heartbeat or breathing patterns to compensate for the lowered oxygen levels and the excess carbon dioxide. However, a child with a brain defect may not be born with this capacity for self-defense. This may explain why babies sleeping on their stomachs are more likely to get SIDS and why many babies with SIDS develop respiratory infections before they die. This may also explain why more SIDS occur in the colder months of the year, when respiratory and intestinal infections are more common.

1. Problems with the immune system

Some children with SIDS have reported a higher number of cells and proteins than normal by the immune system. Some of these proteins can interact with the brain to alter heart rate and breathing during sleep, or they can put your baby into deep sleep. These effects can be strong enough to kill a child, especially if the child has an underlying brain defect.

1. Faʻaletonu o le Metabolic

Some babies who die suddenly may be born with a metabolic disorder. These babies can develop high levels of abnormal proteins that can lead to quick and fatal interruptions in breathing and heart rate. If there is a family history of the disorder or childhood death from an unknown cause, genetic screening of the parents using a blood test can determine if they are carriers of the disorder. If one or both parents are found to be a carrier, the baby may be tested shortly after birth.

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SIDS – risk factors

It’s impossible to predict whether our family will be affected by SIDS, but there are a few things that increase the likelihood of developing this syndrome.

Tausaga. It is most common in infants aged 1 to 4 months. However, SIDS can occur at any time during the child’s first year of life.

Feusuaiga. SIDS is more common in boys, but only slightly.

Lagona. For reasons not well understood, non-white infants are more prone to developing SIDS.

Birth weight. SIDS is more likely to occur in premature babies, especially those with very low birth weight, than in full-term babies.

Talafaasolopito o aiga. The chances of a child developing SIDS are high if a sibling or cousin of the child dies from SIDS.

Mother’s health. SIDS is more likely to happen to a child whose mother:

1. is less than 20;
2. does not receive good prenatal care;
3. smokes, uses drugs or drinks alcohol during pregnancy or during the first year of life of the baby.

SIDS – symptoms

SIDS has no noticeable symptoms. It happens suddenly and unexpectedly in babies who appear healthy.

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SIDS – diagnostics

A diagnosis of SIDS, while largely excluding, cannot be made without an appropriate postmortem examination to rule out other causes of sudden unexpected death (e.g., intracranial haemorrhage, meningitis, myocarditis). In addition, the likelihood of a suffocation by an infant or a non-accidental accident (e.g., mistreatment of children) should be carefully assessed. Concern for this etiology should increase when the affected infant was not at the highest risk age group (1-5 months) or when another infant in the family had SIDS.

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SIDS – treatment

There are no treatments for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS. However, there are ways to help your baby sleep safely. You should always put your baby on its back to sleep for the first year. Use a firm mattress and avoid fluffy pads and blankets. Take all toys and stuffed animals out of the crib and try to use a pacifier. Do not cover your baby’s head and make sure it is not too hot. A child can sleep in our room but not in our bed. Breastfeeding for at least six months reduces the risk of SIDS. Vaccines to protect your baby from disease can also help prevent SIDS.

SIDS – prevention

There is no guaranteed way to prevent SIDS, but you can help your baby sleep more safely by following these tips

Toe foi e moe. Put your baby to sleep on his back, not on his stomach or side, every time we or anyone else puts the baby to sleep during the first year of life. This is not necessary when our child is awake or is able to roll over and over again without assistance. Also, do not assume that others will put your baby to sleep in the correct position, because you should insist on it. Advise your baby’s caregivers not to use the abdominal position to soothe an upset baby.

Make the crib as empty as possible. Use a firm mattress and avoid placing your baby on thick, fluffy bedding such as lambskin or a thick duvet. It is better not to leave pillows or plush toys in the crib. They can interfere with breathing if your baby’s face puts pressure on them.

Let’s not overheat the baby. To keep your baby warm, it is worth using sleeping clothes that do not require additional covers. The baby’s head should not be covered.

Let the baby sleep in our room. Ideally, the baby should sleep with us in our room, but alone in a crib, cradle, or other structure designed to sleep an infant, for at least six months and, if possible, up to a year. Adult beds are not safe for babies. A child may become trapped and suffocate between the headboard slats, the space between the mattress and the bed frame, or the space between the mattress and the wall. A baby can also suffocate if a sleeping parent accidentally falls over and covers the baby’s nose and mouth.

If possible, your baby should be breastfed. Breastfeeding for at least six months reduces the risk of SIDS.

Let’s not use baby monitors and other commercial devices that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS. The American Academy of Pediatrics has already commented on this topic, which discouraged the use of monitors and other devices due to ineffectiveness and safety issues.

Let’s give the baby a pacifier. Sucking on a pacifier without a strap or string while napping and at bedtime can reduce the risk of SIDS. However, there is one caveat, because if you are breastfeeding, wait until your baby is 3-4 weeks old before giving the teat. If your baby is not interested in a pacifier, don’t force him. Let’s try again another day. If the soother falls out of the baby’s mouth while sleeping, don’t put it back in.

Let’s get our child vaccinated. There is no evidence that routine immunization increases the risk of SIDS. However, some evidence suggests that vaccination can help prevent the onset of SIDS.

Why is sleeping on the stomach dangerous for babies?

SIDS is more common in babies who are put to sleep on their stomach than in babies who sleep on their backs. Babies also should not be placed on their sides to sleep. An infant can easily fall over from side to side position while sleeping.

Some researchers believe that sleeping on your stomach may block your airways. Sleeping on your stomach can make babies inhale their own exhaled air – especially if your baby is sleeping on a soft mattress or with bedding, plush toys, or a pillow by their face. When the child breathes in the exhaled air again, the oxygen level in the body decreases and the level of carbon dioxide increases.

Babies who die of SIDS may have a problem with the part of the brain that helps control breathing and waking up during sleep. If a baby is breathing stale air and not getting enough oxygen, the brain usually causes the baby to wake up and cry for more oxygen. If the brain does not receive this signal, oxygen levels will drop and carbon dioxide levels will increase.

Babies should be placed on their backs up to 12 months of age. Older babies may not lie on their backs all night and that’s okay. When children consistently roll front to back and back to front, it is a good idea to be in the sleeping position of their choice. Do not use positioners or other devices that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS.

Some parents may be concerned about the so-called flat head syndrome (plagocephaly). This happens when babies develop a flat spot on the back of their head from lying on their backs for too long. This can be easily treated by repositioning the baby in the crib and allowing for more supervised “tummy time” when babies are awake.

Some parents may be concerned that babies sleeping on their backs may choke on the pouring rain or their own vomiting. There is no increased risk of choking in healthy infants or most children with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) who sleep on their backs. Doctors may recommend that babies with some rare respiratory problems sleep on their stomachs.

However, parents should speak to their child’s doctor if they have questions about the best sleeping position for their baby.

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SIDS and the loss of a child

Losing a baby for any reason can be catastrophic. However, losing a child to SIDS can have additional emotional consequences beyond sadness and guilt. A mandatory investigation and autopsy will also be performed to try to find the cause of the child’s death, which can increase the emotional toll.

In addition, the loss of a child can strain relationships between spouses and also have an emotional impact on other children in the family.

For these reasons, getting support is crucial. There are various lost child support groups where you can find others who understand how we are feeling. Therapy can also be helpful in both the mourning process and in your relationship with your spouse.

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