Nov 7, 2024 10:09 PM
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1064081
INTRO: More than a quarter of new mothers have fallen asleep recently while feeding their babies, putting the infants at increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), research from the University of Virginia School of Medicine reveals.
More than 80% had not intended to fall asleep, and many had chosen to feed in chairs or on sofas rather than in a bed. Unfortunately, the cushions and confines of those locations can be very unsafe for babies, raising the risk of death by 49 to 67 times.
The researchers, with UVA Health and UVA Health Children’s, are urging care providers to provide additional guidance for new parents on safe feeding practices, such as informing new moms that a hormone naturally released during breastfeeding will make them feel sleepy.
“While falling asleep while feeding young infants is not in itself too surprising, what is very alarming is that the majority of mothers did not plan to fall asleep, so the sleep space was potentially unsafe for the baby while both slept,” said researcher Fern Hauck, MD, MS, a safe-sleep expert at UVA Health and the UVA School of Medicine.
“This highlights the need for parents to be educated about the potential risk of falling asleep while feeding and to plan for that possibility by making the space around the baby as safe as possible. That would include removing pillows and blankets to ensure an open airway for the baby.” (MORE - details)
INTRO: More than a quarter of new mothers have fallen asleep recently while feeding their babies, putting the infants at increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), research from the University of Virginia School of Medicine reveals.
More than 80% had not intended to fall asleep, and many had chosen to feed in chairs or on sofas rather than in a bed. Unfortunately, the cushions and confines of those locations can be very unsafe for babies, raising the risk of death by 49 to 67 times.
The researchers, with UVA Health and UVA Health Children’s, are urging care providers to provide additional guidance for new parents on safe feeding practices, such as informing new moms that a hormone naturally released during breastfeeding will make them feel sleepy.
“While falling asleep while feeding young infants is not in itself too surprising, what is very alarming is that the majority of mothers did not plan to fall asleep, so the sleep space was potentially unsafe for the baby while both slept,” said researcher Fern Hauck, MD, MS, a safe-sleep expert at UVA Health and the UVA School of Medicine.
“This highlights the need for parents to be educated about the potential risk of falling asleep while feeding and to plan for that possibility by making the space around the baby as safe as possible. That would include removing pillows and blankets to ensure an open airway for the baby.” (MORE - details)
