What do i need to know about SIDS?

Question

What is sids? and how exactly do you know if your child will or is going to be born with it? or is it just something that happends? is it genetic? or what i know nothing about this and someone told me about it, the only thing they told me is that it is caused by smoking. and if you haven't already guessed i'm a smoker! (trying to quit) please help all your answers are helpful in some way thanks

God Bless
Brandie 12wks 2 days

Answer 1

SIDS, also known as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, is when an otherwise healthy baby stops breathing for no apparent reason upon an autopsy. SIDS is not hereditary. SIDS is not apnea. SIDS is not suffocation. A child is not born with SIDS. Pacifiers DO NOT prevent SIDS. SIDS is not caused by smoking. Positioning has nothing to do with why a baby suddenly stops breathing. Suffocation is not SIDS so a baby that dies on its tummy because it was face down in the crib or because of a blanket is not SIDS it is suffocation, not the same thing. They have changed the way they rule a SIDS death and suffocation is suffocation it is no longer considered SIDS. My daughter was on her back and still died of SIDS. I joined a SIDS group shortly after she died and guess what....most of the mothers in my group have also stated that their babies were on their backs, sides, in strollers, swings, etc. There were only a couple on their tummy. If a baby dies on its tummy and it was not suffocation then yeah it was probably SIDS but that baby would have died in any position just like my daughter did. A sudden cesation of breathing has nothing to do with positioning or there would be no babies at all dying other than in just one position. People are so hell bent on this back to sleep stuff that they follow it so cautiously along with everything else they have come up with and then like me their baby dies and they are left saying but I did everything I was supposed to. It doesn't matter what you do. Whatever is causing these babies to stop breathing is beyond our control as parents. It is something you have no control over and if it's going to happen it's going to happen. You should just enjoy your baby and not let this overwhelm you. I've had two more and both of them slept in whatever position they wanted, usually on their stomach, and they are both fine. SIDS has been known to happen up until 1 year but the risk decreases after 6 months. I know three people in my SIDS group that lost their babies at 10 month and two at 12 months. There are also 2 that lost their baby to SIDS while their baby was awake so it doesn't even have to happen while they are sleeping. They say it is more likely to happen to males, in the winter months, and african american babies but my baby was a girl, it happened in June, and she was white. I don't buy any of the garbage they try to tell people anymore because more than likely if you do your research and ask people that it has actually happened to you can discredit everything they are saying. Just like the pacifier supposedly reducing the risk, yeah right, my daughter had a pacifier in her mouth and it fell out when she stopped breathing. That is another one that got asked of the mothers in my group and as it turns out the pacifier did not do their babies any good either. Good theory but it is not true, but people will believe anything because it is easier to beleive that something, no matter what it is, is a solution for why babies just suddenly dies, but they need to get some facts and proof before they start preaching it to people.

Answer 2

SiDS has been remarked about since Egyptian times, so this debunks the myth that SIDS is only a disease of developed countries. The most recent information about SIDS is that it is likely a birth defect, however, clearly it is multicausal. Smoking can increase the risk, so smoke outside. The most common period for a SIDS death is between 2 and 4 months, although my great-Aunt died at one year (she was sleeping on her back, so suffocation wasn't an issue-an autopsy may have revealed something else, but they didn't do these then.).

There is also belief that the outgassing of modern mattresses also increase the incidence. Some British researchers claim that there is no substance to this. Others say that they weren't testing correctly. I don't know what to think, so I included a link.

Finally, it is not CAUSED by smoking, but smoking can increase the incidence as can a number of other things. My link below gives you some helpful tips.

Answer 3

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is a very controversial topic when it comes to how to prevent it. The problem is that most of the doctors are guessing. They do not know what causes SIDS or why it occurs in some children and not others. Ideas on prevention are just "theories" and depending on who you talk to, you'll get differing "theories" or opinions.

They are now starting to contribute some of the previous SIDS cases to genetic disorders. I know this (not because I read it on the internet) but because my son suffers from such a life-threatening disorder. There are mothers in my support group who have children who died of SIDS years ago with no known reason, only to discover on their second or third child that the child has a fatty oxidation disorder. Years ago they did not test for these disorders at birth, now through the Newborn Screening program, children are being tested and it is saving lives. I'm not preaching that this is the cause of all SIDS cases, just another "theory" that is out there.

I know it's a difficult fear to overcome, but you have to stay strong. Quitting smoking is a good start - for your own health. I'm also trying to quit because I realize I can't keep up with my 4 yr old anymore! Good luck to you! And congrats on the new baby!

Answer 4

You aren't "born with sids". SIDS is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. No one knows why it happens and there are no tests to see if your baby is at risk because we don't know what causes it. It's not genetic. It's something that unfortunately just happens to some babies. I would look it up on the internet. Go to your favorite search engine and just type in "SIDS". You'll get a lot of good information that way, or talk to your doctor.

Answer 5

Please try to quit but I do understand it is hard. If you are still smoking when you have the baby do not smoke anywhere near him (or her)
Some things that reduce the risk of SIDS: music or white noise while baby is sleeping, a ticking clock, a pacifier.
Baby should sleep on his back with no pillows, toys, stuffed animals, only a small blanket to wrap the baby should be in the crib or bassinet
best of luck

Answer 6

Checklist: How to Help Protect Your Baby from SIDS
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is the number one cause of infant death in the United States. Ninety percent of SIDS deaths occur in babies who are younger than 6 months old. Here are some things you can do to cut down on the risk of SIDS for your child.
By Suelain Moy



___ Put baby to sleep on his back -- not on his side or tummy.

___ Keep all bedding, blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals out of the crib or bassinet.

___ Give your baby a pacifier at bedtime.

___ Make sure your baby isn't too warm or overdressed.

___ Place your baby's crib or bassinet in your room during the first six months.

___ Breastfed babies are less likely to die from SIDS.

___ Don't smoke. Exposure to smoke in the womb -- and secondhand smoke outside it -- increases the risk.

Answer 7

I don't think anybody really knows what causes Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. However, they have proven that children with people who smoke in the home are most likely to suffer. Smoking outside instead of in the home decreases the risk by something like 40%. Laying your child on their back when they're sleeping also decreases the risk significantly.

In addition, they warn not to put pillows, stuffed animals, blankets or toys in bed with your baby, as they could suffocate. Hope that helps!

Answer 8

I'm 8 weeks pregnant and trying very hard to quit smoking too. its really hard. people seem to think that being pregnant is magical addiction stopper. its a little easier to quit because we have a really good reason but its still hard.

as long as you quit before the baby comes i think the chance of SIDS decreases. when they say smokers i think they are talking about people who smoke in the home after the baby is born

Answer 9

sids just happens....the baby just stops breathing. there are a few things you can do to cut down the risk of sids; don't smoke around the baby. i'm a smoker and i smoke outside then come in and wash my hands. always put baby to sleep on her back, not on tummy. don't get baby too hot, the temp that is comfortable to you is comfortable to baby. hope this helps.

Answer 10

You've gotten some great answers so far. I just wanted to let you know that a lot of mothers feel bad about not putting the bumper pads in the crib because the baby might bump it's head. But really, it's not like the baby is taking their head and banging it really hard, the little bump is okay and better be safe than sorry.

I know the bumper pads look nice in the crib but I didn't put them in with both my kids and they were fine. Even when got older and were able to roll around...yes they'd bump themselves while sleeping but nothing really happens to them! =)

Congrats on being pregnant!

Here's a little something to read... http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/general/sleep/sids.html