To Diane

>One mother said she watched her husband asleep with the baby.  When he had
>a >period of apnea,it made the baby stir in her sleep, which roused the
>father >into breathing again.  Neither one woke up.  It was the reverse of
>what we hear >about parents stirring in response to infant apnea, and
>maybe another good >reason to share sleep at all ages.

I have heard of "co-arousal" as being the reason the child doesn't get
sleep apnea. The idea being just what you indicated. Both parties don't
sleep as deeply which keeps the babies respiratory rate higher. Perhaps the
same is happening with the husband in this case.

Perhaps we should get someone to study this in countries where they cosleep
all the time as a cultural norm. Someone studied SIDS in Bangledesh and
found that despite their malnutrition etc that they have far lower rates of
SIDS. I wonder what their rate of sleep apnea and related deaths is?


Karen Cunningham M.D. C.C.F.P.
London Ontario Canada
Email : [log in to unmask]
(My husbands address)