co-sleeping and SIDS

Those monitors have so many false alarms. (Believe me, I've workedn in
Special Care Nurseries).

That's what I figured. And think of all the parents who would be terrified for
no good reason. It would be doing to the neonatal period the equivalent of
what fetal monitoring has done to the birth experience.

After so many false alarms, parents will ignore
it...

CPR doesn't seem to work for (true) SIDS after so many seconds.

I think it is the parent's responsibility if they want to be able to save
their child early (ie from drowning, etc) with CPR... if they really want to
they will learn how to do it. There is no point making it mandatory.

Sure it would be a good idea for parents to know CPR and first aid . . . and to
take parenting classes . . . and to be required to take BF classes . . . but
where do we draw the line?


As for car seats - All the hospital can do is say "it is law to have a baby
capsule correctly fitted to transport your baby home." There is no power
they have to stop you from taking the baby home with no capsule. (They can
pretend they have the power, but they don't).

Really? Can't they call the police?

Leslie

But this poor woman is reacting to a
devastating tragedy, so I hope people treat her respectfully and
kindly.

Yes, that is why I want to be careful how I word this. I don't want to attack
her or upset her worse than she already is.


Unfortunately for your letter there isn't any research that meets
reasonable standards of medical evidence that actually shows that
co-sleeping reduces SIDS. You may, however, be able to find research
that supports this position that could be quoted in the popular press
(whose stanards of evidence are, shall we say, more inclusive :-).
James McKenna is a physician who's done research on co-sleeping and he
suggests that it might be protective against SIDS.

Thanks for this--I'll look him up.


Not a paper you'd want to cite, but the 10/03 issue of Pediatrics had
a study showing that the risk of accidental suffocation was 40 times
higher for babies in adult beds than babies in cribs. I read the
paper and its conclusions seemed valid. But the Bug is still in bed
with us -- I figure you're more likely to get hit by a car if you take
a walk, but that doesn't mean taking walks is bad for you.

Good analogy. But of course suffocation and SIDS aren't the same thing, are
they? A baby in bed with parents who practice safe co-sleeping isn't going to
suffocate.

Leslie

I *do* think it's useful to point out the advantages of co-sleeping in any
discussion about SIDS, by the way--there's way too much misinformation about
the "dangers" of co-sleeping out there. (Esp. from medical professionals,
who don't distinguish in safety statistics between a nursing mother who
regularly co-sleeps with her infant and drunk Uncle Ted who passed out on
the bed where the baby was sleeping and rolled over him.)

Yes, and it is exactly those kinds of misperceptions that I would like to point
out, along with a list of things to do to prevent SIDS that are more practical
and useful than monitors.

Leslie

If you are interested in SIDS, please take a look at this article...
http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/bedding.asp



Baby's Bedding: Is It Creating Toxic Nerve Gasses?

by Joanne B. Quinn, RMA, PhD

© 2002 Midwifery Today, Inc. All rights reserved.

[Editor's note: This article first appeared in Midwifery Today, Issue
61, Spring 2002.]


Research done over the past 13 years in Great Britain and New Zealand
indicates that Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is an environmental
poisoning in the crib. In 1988, Barry Richardson, a British chemist
specializing in deterioration and preservation of materials, and Peter
Mitchell, a marquee specialist, were working on Mitchell's
deteriorating marquee, awnings and party tents. Mitchell's marquee
supplier told him that the chemicals in awnings and tents were the
same chemicals that had been approved for use in baby mattresses.
Mitchell also learned from Richardson that these same chemicals could
be converted into nerve gas. Mitchell and Richardson decided maybe
there was a connection here to SIDS. The research by Richardson began
immediately.

The three chemicals of concern are phosphorus used in the baby
mattress cover, and arsenic and antimony added as preservatives and
fire retardants. Richardson has determined that a common household
fungus, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, gets established in the mattress
from the baby's sweating, spitting up and so on. Once established, the
fungus begins to consume these three chemicals in the mattress. This
results in the production of three nerve gasses: phosphine, arsine and
stibine, all of which can be very deadly, especially to infants.

In late 1988 Richardson asked local coroners to cooperate by releasing
mattresses on which SIDS babies had died. He received 200 mattresses
of all varieties: foam, plastic, fabric and netted. By June 1989 all
mattresses had been tested with the following results:

Every mattress was infected with the S. Brevicaulis fungus as an
organism and spores.

All mattresses had one or more of the chemicals phosphorus, arsenic or
antimony.

Each mattress generated one or more of the nerve gasses (phosphine,
arsine or stibine) when brought to blood/body temperature.

At this time, Richardson analyzed six blood samples of the SIDS babies
who died on mattresses with antimony and found high levels of antimony
in each sample. In addition, Richardson learned that 95 percent of
mattresses tested had been used by a previous baby.

Meanwhile, a New Zealand chemist, T.J. Sprott, was questioning the
role of chemicals in the baby's environment. He learned of
Richardson's research and concurred that nerve gas could also be
poisoning babies in New Zealand. He established the guidelines for
wrapping mattresses, known as the Cotlife 2000 Specifications. (For
additional information, log on to www.cotlife2000.com.) These
specifications involved wrapping the baby's mattress with a gas
impermeable plastic to keep the gasses from contaminating the sleeping
area and, in addition, using cotton bedding. Since 1996, New Zealand
has wrapped 100,000 baby mattresses to these specifications. There
have been no reported deaths to date on these wrapped mattresses.

SIDS is called the "mystery disease." Understanding the gas theory
explains away the mystery by answering all of the following perplexing
questions:

Q: Why do SIDS babies show no symptoms?
A: The lethal dose of nerve gas doesn't make them "ill." It
acts by shutting down the nervous system, stopping heart function and
breathing. Research has shown neurochemical deficits in SIDS babies
that are consistent with poisoning by nerve gas.

Q: Why are babies at higher risk after illness or vaccination?
A: The fever that results increases the temperature in the crib
environment. This stimulates fungus activity and nerve gas production
tenfold or more.

Q: Why does the rate of crib death rise from one sibling to the
next?
A: In a reused mattress, fungus established in prior use cause
toxic gas generation to commence sooner and in greater volume.

Q: Why are babies at higher risk in families where births are
close together?
A: Once again, the fungus in the mattress from the previous use
will be quickly activated, producing gas sooner.

Q: Why are SIDS rates higher in the winter?
A: Windows are kept shut, creating poor ventilation around the
crib. Gasses are less likely to dissipate. Babies are often bundled in
blankets during the winter, trapping gasses close to their bodies.

Q: Why are babies sleeping face down at higher risk?
A: Stibine gas is formed from the interaction of the S.
Brevicaulis fungus and the antimony in the mattress. This gas is very
heavy and hangs right on the surface of the mattress. A baby sleeping
face down will breathe this gas directly and is more likely to inhale
a lethal dose.

Q: Why are boy babies at higher risk for SIDS?
A: Most boys have a higher metabolic rate than girls, thus
their body temperature can be somewhat higher than girls. The rate of
gas generation increases rapidly with increasing temperature.

Q: Why does SIDS sometimes occur during bed-sharing on an adult
mattress?
A: Phosphorus, arsenic or antimony can be found in most
mattresses, allowing the generation of the nerve gasses. Adults are
not as susceptible to gas poisoning as infants.

Q: Why was SIDS rare before 1950?
A: Prior to 1950, harmful chemicals were not added to
mattresses. It was postwar technology that prompted the common use of
phosphorus as a plasticizer, arsenic as a preservative and antimony as
a fire retardant. In England and Wales the SIDS statistics from 1953
onward increased in parallel with the increasing concentration of
antimony in mattress covers. In addition, prior to 1950 people
commonly used soap for baby laundry, whereas now detergent and fabric
softeners are commonplace. Detergent contains nitrogen and phosphorus
compounds on which the fungus feeds.

Q: Why does SIDS generally occur between the ages of 2 months
and 1 year?
A: It takes time for the fungus in the mattress to flourish and
start generating gas. However, younger babies can die if they are
sleeping on a mattress that has recently been used by an older sibling
and has established, flourishing fungus. As babies get older, the gas
exposure gives them a headache causing them to move around, wake their
parents and stand up in their crib.

Q: Why is SIDS non-existent in some other countries?
A: There used to be virtually no crib deaths in Japan. Japanese
traditionally used untreated cotton futons for babies. Recently, Japan
has started to adopt Western baby care practices, mattresses, etc.,
and the crib death rate has begun to rise. SIDS is practically
non-existent in Russia, as well. There, it is common place to cover
the mattress with rubber sheeting. This rubber is gas impermeable,
inhibits fungal growth and is free of phosphorus, arsenic and
antimony.

Q: Why have SIDS rates fallen over the past five years, but are
now leveling out?
A: Five years ago the Back to Sleep campaign was introduced
encouraging parents to position their babies on their backs. This has
likely saved many babies from stibine (the gas from antimony)
poisoning. As was said earlier, this gas is heavy and hangs right on
the surface of the mattress where face-down babies breathe it
directly. However, babies sleeping on their backs are still exposed to
the lighter nerve gasses: arsine and phosphine. In a warm environment
phosphine can be similar to the density of air, and easily inhaled by
a baby sleeping on its back. In addition, face-up sleeping is not as
effective in a cot or bassinet with enclosed sides, because the gasses
cannot flow away.

To prevent these nerve gasses from reaching the baby, New Zealand
CotLife2000 Specifications recommend doing all of the following:

Cover the top, all sides and most of the underside of the mattress
with a polyethylene sheeting that is at least 5 mil thick and free of
phosphorus, arsenic and antimony. Leave several venting holes on the
underside of the mattress cover so that the gas can escape.

Use fleecy pure cotton mattress cover over the polyethylene sheeting
and tuck it in securely.

Make the bed using pure cotton sheets and blankets.

Do not use any of the following as baby bedding: sheepskin,
moisture-resistant mattress protector, acrylic under blanket, sleeping
bag or duvet.

Clean mattress covers by wiping with pure soap and water. Do not use
chemical bleaches or sterilizers.


Joanne Quinn is a registered medical assistant with a PhD in holistic
nutrition. She is the Executive Director of the Educational Learning
Strategies Foundation and field advisor for the National Foundation
for Alternative Medicine.

Editor's Note: Subsequent research has failed to establish the link
between baby mattresses and SIDS that this article asserts. Midwifery
Today, Inc. does not endorse the research cited above, but presents it
as part of the overall effort to prevent SIDS. Other resources you
might find of interest include:


This study by the British Department of Health found no link between
baby mattresses and SIDS: http://sids-network.org/images/limer1.pdf

The Back to Sleep Campaign Web site: http://www.nichd.nih.gov/sids/

The Cot Life 2000 Web site: http://www.cotlife2000.com/


References

Cullen, W.R., Reiner, K.J. (1989). Arsenic speciation in the
environment. Chem Rev 89: 713-764.

Decreased kainite receptor binding in the arcuate nucleus of the
sudden infant death syndrome. J Neuropathology & Experimental
Neurology (56)11: 1253-1261.

Filiano, J.J., Kinney, H.C. (1992). Arcuate nucleus hypoplasia in the
sudden infant death syndrome. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 51: 394-403.

Fitzpatrick, M.G. (1998). SIDS and the toxic gas theory (letter) New
Zealand Med J, pp. 482-483.

Fowkes, S. (1999). Interview by J. Hattersly.

Gibson, A.A.M. (1992). Current epidemiology of SIDS. J Clinical
Pathology. 45(suppl):7-10.

Greenwald, M.J. (1984). SBS and SIDS. Annuals of Emergency Medicine.

Knobel, H.H., Yang, W.S., Cjen, C.J. (1996). Risk factors of sudden
infant death in Chinese babies. Amer J Epidemiology (144)11:
1070-1073.

New Zealand Minister of Health: May 18, 2001.

Rajs, J., Hammarquiest, F. (1998). Sudden infant death in Sweden. Acta
Paediatr Scand. 77:812-820.

Richardson, B.A. (1990). Cot mattress biodeterioration and SIDS.
Lancet 335:670.

Richardson, B.A. (1994). Sudden infant death syndrome: A possible
primary cause. J Forensic Science Society. 34: 199-204.

Rognum, T.O., Sanstad, O.D. Ovasater, S., Olarsen, B., (1988).
Elevated levels of hypoxanthine in vitreous humor indicate prolonged
cerebral hypoxia in victims of sudden infant death syndrome.
Pediatrics. 82: 615-617.

Sears, W. (1995). SIDS: A Parent's Guide to Understanding and
Preventing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Boston: Little, Brown.

Skadberg, B.T., Morild, I., Markestad, T. (1998). Abandoning prone
sleeping: Effect on the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. J
Pediatrics.(132)2: 240-243.

Smith, L., Hattersley, J. (2000). The Infant Survival Guide. Petaluma:
Smart Publications.

Sprott, T.J. (1996). The Cot Death Cover-up? Auckland: Penguin
Environmental.

Sprott, T.J. (1998). Cot Life 2000.

Sprott, T.J. (1999). Cot Life 2000.

Sprott, T.J. (May 1999). Cot Life 2000.

Waters, K.A., Meehan, B., Huang, J.Q., Gravel, R.A., et. al. (1999).
Neuronal apoptosis in sudden infant death syndrome. Pediatric Research
(45)2: 166-172.

1. Is there any reason to suspect that SIDS could be prevented with CPR
knowledge? This is an honest question, I do not know. But since we really do
not KNOW what SIDs is, I have my doubts.

2. AFAIK these devices are not demonstrated to help at all except to give
terrifying false alarms nightly.

The thing that gets me is that this mother could have learned CPR and had
such a device. SIDs info is all over the place, you cannot even hide from
it. What do we need legislation for? To eliminate people's responsibility to
make informated parenting choices? Life does not have a rule book that makes
for pain free living.


"Leslie" wrote in message
...
I read an article in the paper this morning about a two-week-old who died
of
SIDS. His mother is using the tragedy as a springboard for a campaign
requiring by law that 1) all parents be CPR certified before leaving the
hospital and 2) that all parents of infants must have a baby monitor that
will
alert them if the baby stops breathing.

I am thinking about writing a letter about the benefits of monitoring your
baby's breathing by sleeping with him. I wonder if anyone can direct me
to a
link that gives positive stats regarding co-sleeping and SIDS and to the
research on a baby's breathing being improved by sleep sharing.

TIA,

Leslie

Leslie wrote:

I am thinking about writing a letter about the benefits of monitoring
your baby's breathing by sleeping with him. I wonder if anyone can
direct me to a link that gives positive stats regarding co-sleeping
and SIDS and to the research on a baby's breathing being improved by
sleep sharing.

Leslie, I found a citation on the Sears site that might be useful:

*What does the research say?* The September/October 2002 issue of Mothering
Magazine presents research done throughout the whole world on the issue of
safe sleep. Numerous studies are presented by experts of excellent
reputation. And what is the magazine's conclusion based on all this
research? That not only is sleeping with your baby safe, but it is actually
much safer than having your baby sleep in a crib. Research shows that
infants who sleep in a crib are twice as likely to suffer a sleep related
fatality (including SIDS) than infants who sleep in bed with their parents.

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/10/t102200.asp

--
Belphoebe

(Leslie) wrote in message ...
I read an article in the paper this morning about a two-week-old who died of
SIDS. His mother is using the tragedy as a springboard for a campaign
requiring by law that 1) all parents be CPR certified before leaving the
hospital and 2) that all parents of infants must have a baby monitor that will
alert them if the baby stops breathing.

snip
I'm sorry to be harsh but was there anything stopping her from
learning CPR before she had the baby? Baby monitors are expensive but
you can get them.

I think she is reacting to the grief of losing a baby, isn't there a
pattern to bereavment that includes anger somewhere along the line. I
think she is angry that this has happened ot her and wants someone to
take part of the blame. Poor woman, what an awful thing to happen,
I'd tread lightly with a letter becuase she won't see anything she
doesn't want to see with any sense of proportion for a while yet.

teapot

Wow, that was really interesting. I had never heard of that research before.
Thanks!

Leslie

1. Is there any reason to suspect that SIDS could be prevented with CPR
knowledge? This is an honest question, I do not know. But since we really do
not KNOW what SIDs is, I have my doubts.

I don't know. Other people on this thread have said not. I have certainly
never heard of a baby with SIDS being resuscitated.


2. AFAIK these devices are not demonstrated to help at all except to give
terrifying false alarms nightly.


That's exactly what I envision--making the newborn period a time of terror for
parents.

The thing that gets me is that this mother could have learned CPR and had
such a device. SIDs info is all over the place, you cannot even hide from
it. What do we need legislation for? To eliminate people's responsibility to
make informated parenting choices? Life does not have a rule book that makes
for pain free living.

I just worry that such a law overshadows other positive steps people could take
against SIDS, like breastfeeding, not smoking, putting babies on their backs,
sleep sharing, not using too many blankets, etc.

Leslie

Thanks, Belphoebe. That's exactly hwat I was looking for.

Leslie