How to Prevent SIDS: Updated Guidelines
Introduction
Safe Sleep and SIDS Prevention : If you are pregnant and expecting your first child, you are surely asking yourself questions about this very important topic.
I decided to create this content to help you understand more.
As you can see, it is very long. It is no coincidence that there is an index: if you are interested in one in particular among the many facets of the theme, you can click on the title of the corresponding paragraph.
For more information, I also recommend the Instagram profile @drsilva.com_official .
Now all I have to do is take you by the hand and accompany you in the discovery of a fundamental topic for your serenity as a mother.
In the course dedicated to how to prevent SIDS through safe naps, we will use as references the advice of Pilar Nannini , pediatrician and author and curator of the video course “Safe naps, prevention and safety at home” which you can find at the end of the paragraph.
What is SIDS?
Before we even start talking about SIDS prevention guidelines , we need to clarify what it is.
The acronym SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome ) refers to the sudden death of a child between the ages of 1 and 12 months.
Referred to in non-medical language as " cot death " or " accidental death ", SIDS is also characterised by the inexplicable causes of the infant's death even following an autopsy, complete family history, or analysis of the place where the death occurred .
To date, there are no official data on the incidence of SIDS at a national level. In fact, there is currently no homogeneous detection system .
Some of the data that are cited regarding our country date back to the past and speak of 1-1.5‰ of live births.
Fortunately, the numbers in this regard are decreasing during this period.
In recent years, in fact, numerous awareness campaigns have been launched with the aim of preventing SIDS.
According to experts from the Ministry of Health , the current figure can be estimated at around 250 new cases per year.
The peak of SIDS occurs between 2 and 4 months. Cases involving babies over 6 months are much rarer.
For the sake of accuracy, I would like to remind you that sudden death during the first month of life is referred to by a different acronym, SUEND (Sudden Unexpected Early Neonatal Death).
Reducing the risk of SIDS concerns aspects related to safe sleep – which I will discuss in depth in the next paragraphs – but not only.
In fact, it is essential to also focus on the pre-conception period.
Yes, you understood perfectly: we are talking about the very famous - and equally important - first 1000 days , which I also talked about in the guide dedicated to nutrition during pregnancy .
In the period from conception to the first two years of a puppy's life, one of the behaviors that can make a difference in terms of SIDS prevention is abstention from smoking.
As mentioned, the causes of SIDS are not known.
However, over the years, science has identified, through epidemiological studies, the correlation between some behaviors that can be changed by the individual and the reduction of incidence.
Many of the precautions just mentioned concern safe sleeping.
For concrete indications on this matter, follow me in the next paragraph (in the video course of Doctor Nannini accessible from the button below you can find further information).
