How do you handle your sid anxiety?

kkchisholm · August 2012

I litterally might drive myself crazy, if I am not already there. I am constantly reading about sids...especially now since we are in the 'danger period'.I know its so so so rare, but I really an anxious about it. I know someones who's baby recently passed at exactly 4 months. I try to remind myself they did not follow sids rules (ie- co sleeping and NAPPING ALONE in an adult bed). I have one of those sleep monitors that alarms you if the baby stops breathing but I really think I may be going clinically crazy!

Mrs MoJoRisin · August 2012

I think it is normal to worry about it. However there is a lot of misconceptions about SIDS. When an infant dies from SIDS, the cause of death is unknown. Many babies die from suffocation which is controllable with the proper precautions (no bumpers, blankets, stuffed animals...).

bornmommy · August 2012

I'm a nut about it too and have no advice but tons of empathy! It doesn't help that Connor has stopped breathing twice now and I've had to alert him to get him to breath... We are in the danger zone to and I am constantly checking on him. He wears a Snuza for all naps and even in the car. The only way I'm not going completely insane is through prayer. You're not alone!!! Good luck getting through these next few weeks, I'll be keeping your sanity in my prayers also!!

FyreFlyeRush · August 2012

Mrs MoJoRisin:
I think it is normal to worry about it. However there is a lot of misconceptions about SIDS. When an infant dies from SIDS, the cause of death is unknown. Many babies die from suffocation which is controllable with the proper precautions (no bumpers, blankets, stuffed animals...).

This. SIDS deaths are all about commonalities. It's not like diabetes or bad eye sight. It's not like fetal alcohol syndrome. There isn't cause and effect. Only guesses. All they can do is look at the life styles and environments of children and say they had X in common. A lot of bedsharing deaths are believed to be suffocation related, something that is rare. Very few moms will roll over on their babies. Your friend didn't lose their child because they bedshared. They lost their child due to a horrible unknown tragedy effecting more babies in this country than almost any other developed nation. Only NZ has more.

My BIL smoked. They didn't have AC. They didn't have fans. My sister bedshared on pure instinct...except once. My nephew never woke up.

Remember, the peak of SIDS is 2-4 months. 50% of ALL deaths occur between weeks 8-10, with a huge drop off at 13w. Every day past 10w, the odds are less and less. By 6mos, the risk is pretty much gone.

kkchisholm · August 2012

bornmommy:

I'm a nut about it too and have no advice but tons of empathy! It doesn't help that Connor has stopped breathing twice now and I've had to alert him to get him to breath... We are in the danger zone to and I am constantly checking on him. He wears a Snuza for all naps and even in the car. The only way I'm not going completely insane is through prayer. You're not alone!!! Good luck getting through these next few weeks, I'll be keeping your sanity in my prayers also!!

Thats so very scary! I asked you this on your other post but I am not sure if you'll get it because its older. How did you find him not breathing? Did the alarm go off? Did you have to rouse him? whats a snuza exactly? my baby lays on pad that detects breathing when she sleeps. Howd the hosiptal stay go?

nicole0066 · August 2012

I worry about it too, a lot. I think the thing that eases my mind a little is taking all the precautions for lessening the risk (fans, sleeping on back, sleeping in our room, etc). When it comes to SIDS I think thats all you can do.

ClaireOtoms · August 2012

FyreFlyeRush:
My BIL smoked. They didn't have AC. They didn't have fans. My sister bedshared on pure instinct...except once. My nephew never woke up.

I am so sorry for your family's loss. DH is a smoker, but he only smokes outside. I have been trying and trying to get him to quit, but he's just having a hard time with it. Did your BIL smoke inside the house? I am curious about what the risk level is for LO's whose parents smoke OUTSIDE the home.

I am also confused about people who say that bedsharing increases the risk of SIDS, because everything I have read says it seems that the incidence of SIDS is much much less in families who bedshare.

OP - all I can do is force myself not to think about it. I allow myself to check on him ONCE before I go to bed, or else I would drive the whole house batty.

bornmommy · August 2012

kkchisholm:
bornmommy:

I'm a nut about it too and have no advice but tons of empathy! It doesn't help that Connor has stopped breathing twice now and I've had to alert him to get him to breath... We are in the danger zone to and I am constantly checking on him. He wears a Snuza for all naps and even in the car. The only way I'm not going completely insane is through prayer. You're not alone!!! Good luck getting through these next few weeks, I'll be keeping your sanity in my prayers also!!

Thats so very scary! I asked you this on your other post but I am not sure if you'll get it because its older. How did you find him not breathing? Did the alarm go off? Did you have to rouse him? whats a snuza exactly? my baby lays on pad that detects breathing when she sleeps. Howd the hosiptal stay go?

Sorry I didn't respond earlier. The first time, we were falling asleep and I didn't hear him breathing anymore. When I looked at him, his chest was not moving...when I felt his chest I don't feel anything. I had my hand on his chest, shaking it and started screaming his name. By the time my husband came in, I had him unswaddled and once DH got to the bed, Connor's chest started going up and down again. He never opened his eyes but did start breathing. The second time was a week ago. Connor was in his swing and I was cleaning the floor right next to him. I looked over and saw us eyes fixed on something. I also noticed he looked a little paler than usual so I went over to him and saw he wasn't breathing and had begun to get a bit blue around his lips. I jerked him out of his swing and started trying to to wake him up. He started wincing once I got to his room, about 20 feet away....

He was not wearing the Snuza either time but now des nt sleep without it. Its a little monitor that goes right on his diaper and detects belly movement. It's not recommended by pedis but I could care less. It gives me piece of mind. I also don't leave the room when he is sleeping during the day anymore...like I said, Im a nut.

The hospital stay was stupid, for lack of a better word. After 24 plus hours, all tests were negative and they ended up prescribing him Zantac for silent reflux. His heart rate and respitory rate dropped a few times but they said it was okay bc it didn't trend low.

From here out, it's just me doing my due diligence and prayer until we are in the clear.

bornmommy · August 2012

Ps. We bed share because I'm such a freak. As long as you do it safely, it can decrease the risk of SIDS.

kkchisholm · August 2012

bornmommy:
Ps. We bed share because I'm such a freak. As long as you do it safely, it can decrease the risk of SIDS.

you are not a freak!! that is very very scary..and im so sorry. i actually googled snuzas this am and ended up ordering one! why are they not reccomended by peds? hallie deffinitly has reflux but is generally happy and is gainin weight nicly. did they say the reflux was related the reflux was related to apnea?

also ive read both sides of bed sides of bed shairing. i know it can be ok...its just not for us!

stemms8810 · August 2012

bornmommy:
kkchisholm:
bornmommy:

I'm a nut about it too and have no advice but tons of empathy! It doesn't help that Connor has stopped breathing twice now and I've had to alert him to get him to breath... We are in the danger zone to and I am constantly checking on him. He wears a Snuza for all naps and even in the car. The only way I'm not going completely insane is through prayer. You're not alone!!! Good luck getting through these next few weeks, I'll be keeping your sanity in my prayers also!!

Thats so very scary! I asked you this on your other post but I am not sure if you'll get it because its older. How did you find him not breathing? Did the alarm go off? Did you have to rouse him? whats a snuza exactly? my baby lays on pad that detects breathing when she sleeps. Howd the hosiptal stay go?

Sorry I didn't respond earlier. The first time, we were falling asleep and I didn't hear him breathing anymore. When I looked at him, his chest was not moving...when I felt his chest I don't feel anything. I had my hand on his chest, shaking it and started screaming his name. By the time my husband came in, I had him unswaddled and once DH got to the bed, Connor's chest started going up and down again. He never opened his eyes but did start breathing. The second time was a week ago. Connor was in his swing and I was cleaning the floor right next to him. I looked over and saw us eyes fixed on something. I also noticed he looked a little paler than usual so I went over to him and saw he wasn't breathing and had begun to get a bit blue around his lips. I jerked him out of his swing and started trying to to wake him up. He started wincing once I got to his room, about 20 feet away....

He was not wearing the Snuza either time but now des nt sleep without it. Its a little monitor that goes right on his diaper and detects belly movement. It's not recommended by pedis but I could care less. It gives me piece of mind. I also don't leave the room when he is sleeping during the day anymore...like I said, Im a nut.

The hospital stay was stupid, for lack of a better word. After 24 plus hours, all tests were negative and they ended up prescribing him Zantac for silent reflux. His heart rate and respitory rate dropped a few times but they said it was okay bc it didn't trend low.

From here out, it's just me doing my due diligence and prayer until we are in the clear.

I couldn't imagine the anxiety you go through each day. I would be freaking out each moment of the day if this happened to my DS.

bornmommy · August 2012

Thanks ladies. Good news is there is a light at the end of the tunnel!

Kkchis-they really can't give a good reason why they don't recommend it. They said its not sensitive enough but I say it's better than nothing! I hope it lessens your anxiety

hopefulmom81 · August 2012

I have had TERRIBLE post partum anxiety and SIDS has definitely been a part of it.

In my rational moments here is what I tell myself (and I am so sorry for those of you have been impacted by SIDS, I do not mean to brush any of that individual pain aside and the fact that when you ARE the individual in the percentages it is horrendous, this is simply something I have to do to make myself able to sleep at night)...

2500 children die of SIDS a year.

When you hear that as a lump sum it sounds staggering, but there are over 400,000 babies born in the US each year which equates to a .6% chance that might happen to an individual (again, when you ARE the individual or know someone, none of this matters, this is just something I have to say rationally to make myself feel better).

Then, if you figure that half of those cases are babies on their stomachs it becomes a .3% chance.

Then, if you figure out other things the percentage goes down even further. Basically, there are other things that the odds are far greater that something would happen than SIDS.

bornmommy · August 2012

hopefulmom81:
I have had TERRIBLE post partum anxiety and SIDS has definitely been a part of it.

In my rational moments here is what I tell myself (and I am so sorry for those of you have been impacted by SIDS, I do not mean to brush any of that individual pain aside and the fact that when you ARE the individual in the percentages it is horrendous, this is simply something I have to do to make myself able to sleep at night)...
2500 children die of SIDS a year.
When you hear that as a lump sum it sounds staggering, but there are over 400,000 babies born in the US each year which equates to a .6% chance that might happen to an individual (again, when you ARE the individual or know someone, none of this matters, this is just something I have to say rationally to make myself feel better).
Then, if you figure that half of those cases are babies on their stomachs it becomes a .3% chance.
Then, if you figure out other things the percentage goes down even further. Basically, there are other things that the odds are far greater that something would happen than SIDS.

That does help. I like numbers. Thanks

Nicolewinsbingo · August 2012

FyreFlyeRush:
Mrs MoJoRisin:
I think it is normal to worry about it. However there is a lot of misconceptions about SIDS. When an infant dies from SIDS, the cause of death is unknown. Many babies die from suffocation which is controllable with the proper precautions (no bumpers, blankets, stuffed animals...).
This. SIDS deaths are all about commonalities. It's not like diabetes or bad eye sight. It's not like fetal alcohol syndrome. There isn't cause and effect. Only guesses. All they can do is look at the life styles and environments of children and say they had X in common. A lot of bedsharing deaths are believed to be suffocation related, something that is rare. Very few moms will roll over on their babies. Your friend didn't lose their child because they bedshared. They lost their child due to a horrible unknown tragedy effecting more babies in this country than almost any other developed nation. Only NZ has more.
My BIL smoked. They didn't have AC. They didn't have fans. My sister bedshared on pure instinct...except once. My nephew never woke up.
Remember, the peak of SIDS is 2-4 months. 50% of ALL deaths occur between weeks 8-10, with a huge drop off at 13w. Every day past 10w, the odds are less and less. By 6mos, the risk is pretty much gone.

I love you right now because you said there is a huge drop off at 13w and my baby is 14w today.

Nicolewinsbingo · August 2012

I said it before, but I like to remind myself that Owen has a much better chance of living to be 100 years old (life expectancy for babies born in 2012...1 in 3 babies will live to see their 100th birthday)! Lord willing, he will live to be a wrinkly old man with a long, love-filled, life.

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