Mother's milk minimises sudden infant deaths

Varanasi, Dec 12 (UNI) Exclusive breast feeding to new borns is sure to minimise chances of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) -- sudden and unexplained deaths of babies aged between four and 12 months -- American and Australian neonatalogists have claimed.

''Though the exact causes behind sudden infant deaths were still not known, studies have shown that certain undiagnosed infections could be a major contributor for such deaths. Mother's milk contains vital anti-bodies which streamline the immune system of the babies, thus helping them fight infections successfully,'' Siva Subramanian, Chief of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine at Children Medical Centre of Georgetwon University in USA told UNI here.

Prof Subramanian was recently in the city to attend NEOCON-2006, the 26th national annual convention of Neonatal Forum of India.

SIDS also known as 'cot deaths' or 'crib deaths' occurs in 2-4 babies per thousand live births, but is the leading cause of fatalities among babies aged above one month in the US, Prof Subramanian said, adding that researches were on to figure out the most prominent cause behind these unexplained deaths.

''Studies have proven that sleeping posture of babies could be an important cause behind SIDS, as the babies lying in sleep on their tummies or sides stand at higher risk of dying due to suffocation or respiratory complications. Neonatologists working on SIDS cases forward a universal appeal to parents of new borns to lay their babies in the sleep on the back and not on the tummies or sides, to restrict prospects of cot death due to suffocation,'' Prof Subramanian said.

Owing to adoption of recommended sleeping posture change, the SIDS rate in US has gone down by more than 30 per cent over the last decade, Prof Subramanian said.

Seconding the views of Prof Subramanian as to reduction of SIDS risk by laying down the babies in sleep on their back instead of tummies or sides, David Tudehope, Director of Neonatology at the Mater Mothers Hospital in Brisbane (Australia) said proper ventillation in room also plays an important role in restricting chances of cot deaths due to suffocation or respiratory complications.

''Besides ,the baby should as far as possible be made to sleep in a separate cot once he has been breast-fed by the mother to reduce prospect of SIDS,'' Prof Tudehope added.

He further said mothers who indulge in alcohol consumption, smoking or drug abuse stand at a greater risk of losing their babies due to suffocation deaths.

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