Episode 68: Understanding SIDS

October is SIDS Awareness Month.

Trigger warning: This episode discusses infant loss.

As birth workers, one of the most common concerns families face is the health and well-being of their babies. As postpartum doulas, understanding SIDS is a topic of great importance to doulas and parents alike.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS is the sudden death of an infant under one year of age. The death is unexpected and has no known cause.  SIDS is the leading cause of death of infants under one year of age. Approximately 90% of SIDS deaths occur before the baby is six months old.

It is important to understand that Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is not the cause of death of every sudden infant death. Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Syndrome or SUIDs is the unexpected death of all infants younger than one year. SUIDS include deaths attributed to SIDS and deaths that have a clear cause such as illness, disease, accident, etc.

While there is no way to prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, there are many ways to help reduce the risk. The Safe to Sleep campaign is one way in which risk can be reduced in several ways.

Come join us as we discuss the difference between Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and SUIDS and learn how to discuss how to reduce risk with families via the Safe to Sleep practices.