Numbers for sudden unexplained infant deaths, or cot deaths, have reached the lowest all-time record in England and Wales, according to new figures.
Experts have jumped in to attribute this to many factors including: fewer women smoking, warmer than average temperatures throughout the year, and a greater awareness of safer sleeping practices (back to sleep).
But another reason has been suggested by Amanda Burleigh at Optimal Cord Clamping #WaitforWhite. “Could this be a decreased incidence of immediate cord clamping perhaps?” she asks. “More babies are now getting their full quota of blood and other unknown goodies.”
Delayed cord clamping is finally becoming the default practice with babies receiving a third more of their blood if the cord is left until it goes white.
More blood equals more oxygen pumping around the baby's little body, which means an increased capacity for better breathing. This means the difference of around 150ml in their little bodies from a total available blood bank amount of 450ml.
In November 2014, NICE, the UK agency that provides national healthcare guidance, recommended that hospitals defer cord clamping from 1-5 minutes - the result is that now the majority of hospitals in the UK and Ireland don’t cut cords until they stop pulsating (around 3 minutes).
Whilst there is scant evidence linking cord clamping with improved neo-natal outcomes, the body of research is growing gradually.
Recent Swedish research suggests that it helps to improve children's fine-motor and social skills by age 4 years because of the way it boosts iron levels between the critical growth spurt period of 4- to 6-months. The extra store of iron prevents iron deficiency, which has been linked to developmental problems in both motor control and mental skills.
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) struck 128 times in 2014 (ONS figures only show England and Wales), compared to 165 babies who died the previous year. When ONS first started recording these numbers, that number was 207 in 2004.
Overheating is a known risk factor for cot death and during cold winters the risk of the baby getting too hot under extra clothing and blankets is increased.
Here are some of the measures parents can take to lower the risk of sudden infant deaths:
Andersson, Ola. Uppsala University, Sweden. Published in JAMA Pediatrics. (May 26)
Office for National Statistics (ONS). Birth and Death Statistcis for 2004: England and Wales. (Aug 2016)
Experts have jumped in to attribute this to many factors including: fewer women smoking, warmer than average temperatures throughout the year, and a greater awareness of safer sleeping practices (back to sleep).
But another reason has been suggested by Amanda Burleigh at Optimal Cord Clamping #WaitforWhite. “Could this be a decreased incidence of immediate cord clamping perhaps?” she asks. “More babies are now getting their full quota of blood and other unknown goodies.”
Delayed cord clamping is finally becoming the default practice with babies receiving a third more of their blood if the cord is left until it goes white.
More blood equals more oxygen pumping around the baby's little body, which means an increased capacity for better breathing. This means the difference of around 150ml in their little bodies from a total available blood bank amount of 450ml.
In November 2014, NICE, the UK agency that provides national healthcare guidance, recommended that hospitals defer cord clamping from 1-5 minutes - the result is that now the majority of hospitals in the UK and Ireland don’t cut cords until they stop pulsating (around 3 minutes).
Whilst there is scant evidence linking cord clamping with improved neo-natal outcomes, the body of research is growing gradually.
Recent Swedish research suggests that it helps to improve children's fine-motor and social skills by age 4 years because of the way it boosts iron levels between the critical growth spurt period of 4- to 6-months. The extra store of iron prevents iron deficiency, which has been linked to developmental problems in both motor control and mental skills.
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) struck 128 times in 2014 (ONS figures only show England and Wales), compared to 165 babies who died the previous year. When ONS first started recording these numbers, that number was 207 in 2004.
Overheating is a known risk factor for cot death and during cold winters the risk of the baby getting too hot under extra clothing and blankets is increased.
Here are some of the measures parents can take to lower the risk of sudden infant deaths:
- Always place baby on their back to sleep
- Avoid smoking when pregnant or around the baby.
- Place baby in a separate cot or Moses basket in the same room as you for the first six months.
- Use a good condition, firm, flat and waterproof mattress for baby.
- Don’t sleep on a sofa or in an armchair with your baby.
- If you smoke, drink or take drugs or are extremely tired, don't sleep in the same bed as the baby.
- Avoid letting the baby get too hot.
- Don't cover baby's face or head while they are sleeping or use loose bedding.
Andersson, Ola. Uppsala University, Sweden. Published in JAMA Pediatrics. (May 26)
Office for National Statistics (ONS). Birth and Death Statistcis for 2004: England and Wales. (Aug 2016)
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