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EACH YEAR, BETWEEN 3,000 APPREHENSIVE FAMILY HEALTH
and 4,000 infants lose their lives ABOUT YOUR
unexpectedly while they sleep. This PREGNANCY? actually be the problem,” Dr. Peterson
tragedy is known as sudden infant says. “Infants need to wake up and
death syndrome (SIDS). CENTER eat often. Do not aim for babies to
YOURSELF have long periods of deep sleep in
Losing a beloved child to SIDS the first few months.”
is heartbreaking, but you can take Navicent Health’s CenteringPregnancy
steps to protect any infant in your program for expectant mothers It’s best not to prop a baby with
household. is a series of classes set in a social pillows or sleep positioners to
environment. Participants ask keep him or her tummy-up. The
In most cases, families had no questions and share experiences. wedging materials can increase
warning sign that the worst was about About six to 12 women participate in the risk of suffocation. Babies’
to occur. Their babies were healthy, each Centering Group, going through risk of SIDS decreases as they get
and yet, the unthinkable happened. classes together and bonding as their older. Most doctors say babies
The most common victims of SIDS, pregnancies progress. At a Centering who can easily flip over on their
according to Mitch Rodriguez, MD, Group, women may practice skills own are safe from SIDS.
Medical Director of the Neonatal like diapering, join in a question-and-
ICU at Children’s Hospital, Navicent answer session or have a one-on-one BREASTFEEDING IS BEST
Health, are babies who are: visit with a doctor.
»» 1 to 12 months old Like babies who sleep on
»» African-American or Native “Women who take part in their backs, breastfed babies
CenteringPregnancy like the support are less likely to pass away
American from the other group members, as unexpectedly.
»» Born to mothers younger than 20 well as from the nurse and doctor,”
»» Low birthweight says Lauren Fried, MD, a fourth year “Babies who are breastfed have
»» Male OB-GYN resident at Navicent Health. been shown to have low risk of
“Our patients love the fact that there SIDS,” Dr. Rodriguez says. “Using a
Sometimes, no cause is found. But is no waiting. When they come in, pacifier at night when the baby is
other times, the sudden unexpected loss they go straight to their group. They sleeping is also very helpful.”
of life is due to accidental suffocation like the fact that they’re becoming
or strangling. The choices your family more knowledgeable about their AVOID CO-SLEEP
makes can help prevent this. pregnancies.”
Experts recommend your baby sleep
STOP SMOKING, SAVE YOUR BABY Centering Groups meet at in his or her own crib, not in bed
Anderson Health Center, Navicent with a parent or anyone else.
Smoking in the house with a baby Health, 764 Pine St., Macon. Each
increases his or her risk of SIDS. In class lasts about two hours. Best of all, “Although cases of SIDS have
fact, babies who died from SIDS are there’s no need to register or sign up. decreased overall, the number of
often found to have more nicotine in babies dying from suffocation
their lungs than babies who died for “If you’re a patient at Anderson has gone up,” Dr. Rodriguez says.
other reasons, according to the Centers Health Center, you’re already a “This may be partially due to co-
for Disease Control and Prevention. member of CenteringPregnancy,” sleeping. Bed sharing is extremely
Dr. Fried says. dangerous. It’s good to share a
“I tell parents to never, ever smoke room with your baby, but it’s not
in the house with a baby,” says Christy INTERESTED safe to share a bed.”
Peterson, MD, a pediatrician with IN JOINING A
Children’s Hospital, Navicent Health. CENTERING According to experts at the
“Do not start smoking. If you currently GROUP? CALL American Academy of Pediatrics
smoke, now is the time to quit. Do not 478-633-1710. sofa sleeping isn’t ideal either. It
allow anyone to smoke in your home. creates an “extraordinarily high risk
It’s not worth the risk.” of infant death.”
SAFE TO SLEEP To keep your baby close and
safe, set up the crib or baby box
The Safe to Sleep campaign has helped next to where you sleep. That way
reduce the number of lives lost to SIDS. your baby is within reach and safe
The concept is easy—babies should from harm.
sleep on their backs on a firm surface,
without pillows or blankets. PREGNANT? FIND A
PEDIATRICIAN FOR
“I tell parents infants may sleep YOUR BABY NOW. VISIT
‘better’ on their tummies, and that can WWW.NAVICENTHEALTH.ORG
AND CLICK “FIND A DOCTOR.”
FALL 2017 | navicenthealth.org 13
