Nikki shared an article of infant death while bed-sharing in hospital 
(http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/mum-sues-after-newborn-smothered-20110215-1auwo.html).

In this particular case, I find it interesting that there is no 
mention of an autopsy to confirm that the cause of death was 
suffocation.  Perhaps it happened and wasn't reported, but the 
supporting details are laid out in the article to point clearly 
toward overlying as the assumed culprit.  The reality, though, is 
that the cause of death could have been any number of issues, 
including SIDS, a cardiac defect, a pulmonary defect, a neurological 
defect, etc.

I completely agree that a mother who is excessively exhausted is 
impaired to the same degree as inebriation, but when sleeping with 
their babies mothers instinctively go into the "cuddle curl" position 
with their lower arm bent back and supporting the head (usually under 
the pillow) and the knees bent and brought upward toward the 
baby.  This position makes it almost impossible for the mother to 
roll toward her baby very far and protects the baby's space from 
other occupants of the bed (which wasn't an issue in this 
case).  Mothers have been excessively exhausted throughout history 
and yet until recently it was usually understood that mothers and 
babies should sleep together.

When we see cases like this, it is always worth questioning if the 
cause of death is truly suffocation or perhaps actually another 
culprit. The coincidence that it happened in bed next to the mother 
does not make overlying the most likely cause, even with the factor 
of sleep deprivation.



             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome