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Subject:
From:
Thomas & Suzanne McBride <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Tue, 4 Feb 1997 17:52:48 +0000
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Yesterday I gave a breastfeeding presentation to a high risk mother's
group.  Co-sleeping was discussed as the RN who runs the group had
brought in a copy of the Canadian Feb. 97  Reader's Digest magazine.
An article titled "Don't let these happen to your child" recounted
the story of a 4 month old baby which ended with "crushed into the
bed sheets where her sleeping father's arm had come down on tip of
her lay the baby's tiny suffocated form."  Whether she was breastfed,
sleeping position, parental smoking, medication or other relevant Hx
was not mentioned.  The article went on to tell thatat least 20
children have died since1981 while sleeping in adult beds although
some were attributed to waterbeds, frame, headboard or mattress
problems.  This  section ended with "PREVENTION: Warns Dr. David
Smith, medical director of the emergency department and pediatric
clinic at British Columbia's Children's Hospital: "Children should be
in their own beds.  Period."

I suggested that babies who co-sleep may better regulate breathing
and have less episodes of apnea, and that co-sleeping has been
practiced throughout the world and is normal mammalian behaviour, only
falling out of favour in recent "civilization".  I do not feel that I
impacted much on the shock value of a dead baby.

Does anyone know of any large studies on the prevalence of
co-sleeping in developed countries, the incidence of infant
mortality associated with sleeping styles?  Reader's Digest is a
widely read magazine, found in most waiting/reception rooms and the
opinions expressed in this article will soon be quoted by neighbours,
relatives  care providers to parents who bring their babies to bed.

I am 3 days behind on LACTNET so forgive me if this has just been
discussed.  I will do a search on smothering and co-sleeping.  I know
that Kathy D has posted on co-sleeping before.

Suzanne

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