From: Rachel Fohne, WIC Program Columbus – New Hope Services Inc.
Columbus
October is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month. Although there is no exact cause, there are many known methods to help reduce the risk of SIDS. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these methods include:
- Always place babies on their backs to sleep for every sleep
- Use a firm sleep surface, such as a mattress in a safety-approved crib, covered by a fitted sheet
- Have the baby share their parents’ room, not their bed. Babies should not sleep in an adult bed, on a couch or on a chair alone, with an adult or anyone else.
- Keep soft objects such as pillows and loose bedding out of a baby’s sleep area.
- Prevent exposure to smoking during pregnancy and after birth
Exposure to smoke during pregnancy has been causally linked to infant death for many years now. However, about 13.5 percent of women in Indiana reported smoking during their pregnancies in 2016.
The state of Indiana is doing significant work to improve its current ranking as the 18th-worst state for infant mortality. Part of that effort is supporting pregnant smokers on the path to quitting and after quitting.
Pregnant women in Bartholomew County who want help to quit smoking can call the Indiana Quitline at 1-800-quit-now (1-800-784-8669) or visit QuitNowIndiana.com.
