Daytona Beach BirthCare Center Offers Classes Teaching New Parents How to Help Prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Daytona Beach, FL (PRWEB) June 09, 2014 -- The BirthCare Center at Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center (http://www.floridahospitalbabies.com) is teaching new and expecting moms the guidelines to safe newborn sleep in an effort to reduce Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
“Safe sleep is such an important topic when it comes to taking care of our babies,” says Cathy Szymanski, neonatal nurse practitioner at Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center. “But unfortunately, this is an area that causes much confusion for parents.”
SIDS is the unexpected and unexplained death of an otherwise healthy baby under the age of one year. In the United States, SIDS is the leading cause of death in babies over one month of age, with the highest incidence occurring when babies are two to four months old. After that age, SIDS becomes less common.
"While there is no single risk factor that will cause an infant to die of SIDS, there are several risk factors that, when combined, may cause an 'at-risk' infant to succumb to SIDS," says Szymanski. Some of these risk factors may include:
• Smoking during pregnancy
• Little or no prenatal care
• Young mother (less than 20 years old)
• Prematurity or low birth weight
• Overheating of baby
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, placing all healthy babies on their back for sleep is recommended as the simplest and most effective way to lower the risk of SIDS. Experts say that parents should never share a bed with a baby, but rather put the baby in a crib, bassinet, cradle or bedside sleeper. Other recommendations include using a firm mattress and keeping soft objects and pillows out of a baby’s sleep area.
For more information about SIDS risk factors, guidelines for safe sleep for your newborn, or parent education classes at the BirthCare Center at Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center, visit http://www.floridahospitalbabies.com or call (386) 231-3152.
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About Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center
Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center is a member of Adventist Health System, a faith-based health care organization with 45 hospital campuses and nearly 8,300 licensed beds in 10 states. With more than 1,800 employees and employed physicians, Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center is a nonprofit health-care organization committed to hope, health and healing. A recipient of the 2012 Florida Governor’s Sterling Award for performance excellence, Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center is a national leader in patient experience. Our locations include Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center and Florida Hospital Cancer Institute in Daytona Beach, Florida Hospital Oceanside in Ormond Beach, an outpatient facility in Port Orange, and an imaging center in Ormond Beach. Additionally, Florida Hospital Oceanside is home to the area’s only inpatient rehabilitation facility with CARF accreditation for stroke care. For more information, call (386) 231-6000 or visit http://www.floridahospitalmemorial.org.
About the BirthCare Center
A lifetime of memories begins with the birth of your baby, and Florida Hospital is here to provide a smooth and safe experience, customized to the way you’ve always envisioned it. Along with national recognition and award-winning safety outcomes, the BirthCare Center offers all-private rooms — equipped to accommodate the entire birthing process from labor to delivery — and five-star amenities for your special day. Our state-of-the-art nursery and board-certified neonatologists are available 24/7, for newborns needing a critical-care level of attention. Our birth experience navigators stand ready to support you throughout your entire experience, from parent education classes and prenatal care, to labor and delivery and post-discharge support. For more information, call (386) 231-1400 or visit http://www.FloridaHospitalBabies.com.
Kelsi Gulig, Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center, http://www.floridahospitalbabies.com, +1 386-231-4283, [email protected]
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