The Imperfect Community

[Jessica]

Okay, I have a huge dilema. When Graham was in the NICU, they laid him down to sleep on his tummy. When I asked about this, they said it was okay for them to do it since they had the monitors and all. (He's off the monitors now, BTW.) I then asked why they would do that since he'd have to be put on his back when he came home anyway. I was curious if there was a specific reason and the nurses told me that babies digest their food better on their tummies and since his digestive track was immature, it was much better for him.

So, when we got home, I, of course, started putting him on his back which he hated. I'd also try to put him in his car seat with mixed results. Usually he'd sleep quietly in the seat for an hour or so then he'd start making his usual noises which is groaning, moaning and grunting. Most of the time he'd do this all night long.

Today Graham is going on 10 weeks, (2 weeks adjusted) and has very mild reflux but his digestive system still seems a bit immature. He strains more than "normal" to have bowel movements and sometimes it will take him a day and half to push it out, all the while he's grunting and groaning and seems to be very uncomfortable. The Pediatrician noticed this as well. When I took him to his last check-up, I had just given him a bottle and he was a0moanin'-and-a-groanin' again. She asked me about it and I said that he does that all the time, and that he also did that while I was exclusively bfing too. She thought he may be lactose intolerant because he was a preemie and that the lactose enzyme wasn't fully developed yet. She said we'd give it another month and if his chronic gas didn't improve by month 3, she'd recommend hypoallergenic formula. Personally, I don't think that is the problem.

She then turned him on his tummy and voila, he was as happy as a clam. He fell asleep and the noises stopped. She said, "Oh, wow, look at that. He absolutely loves his tummy. You probably should give him some supervised tummy time during the day."

She also said that he was big enough, 10 lbs. to sleep 6 hours without eating, so not to be alarmed. At the time he was averaging about 2 hours between feedings. I told her that I wasn't going to expect 6 hours for a long time and she said, "I dunno. He's so strong and he's growing so well. Maybe you'll be surprised."

Anyway, sorry for all the extraneous details BTW, but he still isn't a great sleeper because of all this grunting and I'm so exhausted and so is Graham. Actually the whole family is. The little guy is so noisy and I feel so bad for him, it's got to be so uncomfortable. Well, last night, out of pure frustration, I laid him on his tummy to just test it out and now I feel like DCFS is going to take him away! Of course, I didn't sleep well because I was so worried about him. It started off as an experiment but he loved it so much and quieted down and immediately fell asleep, I allowed it. He did wind up sleeping 6 hours and only woke up once last night. This morning, he pooped twice and has been a happy little guy.

So, I don't know what to do? I feel so torn. I know tummy sleeping goes against every good parenting instinct I have since it's been so ingrained that it creates a higher risk of SIDS. My question is, do you all think the benefit of his tummy sleeping outweighs the risks? Could it? I have been unable to find clear data as to how much risk tummy sleeping carries.

Honestly, it's the difference between a well rested, happy baby and one that is completely miserable, not to mention parents who are totally sleep deprived. Now, don't get me wrong, I wouldn't do this just to benefit us. I wouldn't/couldn't be that selfish. It's more that he seems peaceful today and without discomfort and pain. What should I do????

Shit!

[Trey'sMom]

Jessica,

There will probably be people who will cringe when they see this post, but I'm going to write it anyway!

Trey did the EXACT same things. EXACTLY. The groaning, the straining, all of it. He slept on his back at first, but at about 2 months, he would NOT sleep that way. He'd scream. He'd go crazy. He got so upset once he threw up. During the day, I randomly put him on his stomach. He was out like a light.

At his 2 month check-up, I asked the doc about it. He said that since his neck muscles were strong enough to move his head, it should be okay. So, he became a tummy sleeper. I was a nervous wreck for the first few weeks. I'd sleep on his floor sometimes, and if I wasn't there, I'd wake up constantly and have to check on him. After a while, I calmed down, and I swear to God, we were ALL much happier after that.

Go with your gut, but I think you already are! I think he'll be fine. They do have these Angel Care (I think that's what they're called?) monitors...an alarm goes off if the baby doesn't move or the bed or something after a certain amount of time. They're expensive but if you're really concerned, you might check them out.

GOOD LUCK!!

[Elizabeth]

Does he like to be swaddled? What if you bundled him up nice and snug? Also, have you tried propping him on his side? What if you let him fall asleep on his tummy and then try to shift him when he's very deeply asleep?

I don't have the info to help you make an informed decision, but I can imagine how torn you feel -- and either way, you get no sleep.

[Trey'sMom]

BTW, great new forum!! Thanks for adding it, guys!

[DietCokeHead]

Poor Graham, that sounds really uncomfortable with all that moaning and groaning!

Well, add me to the list of desperate parents who flipped their babies onto their stomachs so they could sleep! Jack did not mind his back too much at night, maybe b/c he was so very tired by then?? But for naps he wouldn't sleep unless he was on his tummy. I was super-paranoid about it and my aunt who is a pediatrician told me to stop sweating it. He could lift his head and turn it both ways at a few weeks old so that made me worry less about him smothering.

I bought not one, but TWO Angel Care monitors. (one for the sitter's house too). I felt way better knowing that it would let me know if he stopped moving (breathing) for more than 20 seconds (or whatever it is). You can get them at Babies R Us.

At bedtime we would start him on his back and then when he would wake up wailing, give him the flip and he would sleep for the rest of the night.

This could be total b.s., but I heard from a friend that her dr told her that the biggest risk factor for SIDS is low socio-economic level. It just doesn't get any publicity b/c it's not very PC to say that babies in poor households are more likely to fall victim to SIDS. Who knows....

Anyway, I totally understand your dilemma. It's hard to give advice on this issue! Good luck finding a solution that works for all of you.

[JuneMama]

Have you tried putting him on his tummy to sleep, then once he's in a deep sleep flipping him to his back? My ds started napping finally at 5 mos when he rolled from his side to his tummy one day. If I had a problem getting him to sleep at night at that stage, I'd put him on his tummy til he was asleep, then flip him to his back before I went to bed.

[Jessica]

Elizabeth, no, Graham's not into the swaddle at all! He never was. He hasn't been a typical preemie since day one or a typical newborn for that matter.

Wendy, if I flip him over he automatically awakens.

Actually, now Graham's liking a different position every time he sleeps. Sometimes the car seat, sometimes his crib on his tummy, sometimes the bassinet on his back, sometimes he wants to sleep on that mat on the changing table which I put in his crib sometimes. He's fickle. One thing's for sure though, he definitely prefers to sleep on mommy which can sometimes feel like a tumor.

Oh, and Annie, I've heard about socio-economics playing a key role in the risk of SIDS, however, I've also heard that the demographics of lower socio-economic families tend to lay their babies on their tummies to sleep! So that didn't make me feel any better.

It's strange though. Tummy sleeping aids digestion, it just doesn't seem logical biologically that tummy sleeping would be harmful. I mean this whole anti-prone sleeping position is fairly new. It would just seem like it would go against nature to make something that is so "normal", "dangerous", ya know?

[prescott]

[Shrimp&Grits]

Jessica,

There is a product recmmended in the Dr. Sears book for children with immature digestive systems so they can more safely sleep on their tummy. It's called the Tucker Sling from Tucker Designs Ltd., PO Box 641117, Kenner, LA 70064, 504.464.7479.

Oooh, I just found a web link too. http://www.tuckerdesigns.com/

Sorry if this is a repeat of any other post. I haven't read the whole thread.

[Shrimp&Grits]

We have the angel care monitor and love it. We had one with Attie too. Both he and Virginia sleep on their backs, but I'm a neurotic mess of a mother so we have to have it.

http://store.yahoo.com/ibabydoc/beanmosewiso.html

I'm thinking about using it in the co-sleeper we have now.

[Jessica]

[honeybee]

Uh, I could be a totally dummy asking this, but how does that Tucker sling thing help decrease SIDS rate? From what I could tell it just allowed a baby to be in a reclined positon on their tummy without sliding down the mattress. It mentioned recline to be helpful in reflux, didn't mention SIDS. ???


Melissa

[prescott]

And why are they calling it a sling? I don't get that, either...

[Mom2BJA]

Here's more information so that each mom can make an educated choice (information that you can find on an Internet search):

There IS wayyyy less than a 1% chance of SIDS from even a newborn tummy-sleeper. You actually have a higher risk of injuring or death to a child in an auto accident by age five than your baby suffering crib death.

Several factors can be attributed to the "drop" in SIDS statistics (several experts actually believe there's an INCREASE in SIDS): parents became more conscious about removing stuffed animals, pillows, and fluffy blankets from cribs, thus eliminating true suffocation deaths; and the medical profession is now under much more rigid standards to be more specific on the actual cause of death in infants. It used to be that any death, unless obvious trauma, to a baby was simply called SIDS. SIDS is not suffocation, heart defects, but can be any other health issue - doctors don't know exactly WHAT it is...

More and more studies are being released that indicate SIDS may be genetic - which means it doesn't matter how your child sleeps, if the gene is present, there's frankly nothing a parent can do about it.

Another study just came out in the February of 2005 from Cambridge University showing a correlation between maternal levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and SIDS. Women with the highest AFP levels were three times likely to have a baby die of SIDS.

Keeping your child at a comfortable temperature and keeping the crib free of obstructions is common sense. Remember - SIDS is NOT suffocation.

Before the BTS campaign, we were TOLD to put babies on their bellies. Then about a decade ago, that got switched to recommending ONLY side-sleeping. Then this BTS stuff started. So you see, the next publication could revert back. It's frankly up to each parent, and just like any recommendation, do your research.

Babies have died from SIDS on their backs AND bellies, at home AND in hospitals, and even in their mother's arms. Believe what you will, but I (like many others, medical professionals and parents) am absolutely convinced that the position that a child sleeps in has nothing to do with SIDS. Yes, they say tummy-sleeping can contribute to suffocation, but that's by a parent leaving items in the crib that don't belong. But that's NOT SIDS.

There is a contradicting argument to virtually every statistic you will read. Do what's right for you, but frankly, I would never dream of taking my newborn from my comfortable womb and putting them vunerably on their backs in their new environment. They want to curl up to themselves and they will sleep longer and better that way.

************************************************

"...Further more, much depends on how statistics are gathered. Until recently most autopsies on infants were carried out in a haphazard fashion. Often, no autopsies were performed. Now, in most parts of the western world, strict criteria are applied and autopsies performed by specialist teams. Many cases that previously would be considered as qualifying for the diagnosis of SIDS are now excluded. This artificially reduces the incidence compared to pre-autopsy and specialised consideration times. To accurately follow recent trends one needs to look at the overall infant mortality rate. This is the bottom line and cannot be easily manipulated."--Dr Kalokerinos MD (Medical Pioneer of the 20th century p178) - from http://www.whale.to/vaccine/quotes18.html

"...another researcher's studies led to the conclusion that at least half of SIDS cases are caused by vaccines...." from http://www.mercola.com/2001/aug/18/vaccine_myths.htm

"...In summary, this study has shown that infants who die of SIDS have a higher proportion of airway smooth muscle in their small airways than age-matched infants who die suddenly from causes no associated with underlying cardiorespiratory pathology. The increase in smooth muscle may contribute to excessive airway narrowing which, along with other factors such as immature ventilatory control mechanisms, may result in sudden death, but the precise significance of this finding remains unknown." from http://ajrccm.atsjournals.org/cgi/content/full/160/1/313

"...The tragic mystery of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is a bit closer to being solved. New research shows that genetics may play a role." from http://my.webmd.com/content/article/92/101949.htm

"...A new study has identified mutations in genes pertinent to the autonomic nervous system among babies who died of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) that might explain why they died..." from http://www.docguide.com/dg.nsf/PrintPrint/8848BC53E7ED852685256EF5004B5CB2

"...In other words, the more we look for fine abnormalities the more we find. Unfortunately, apart from a few factors such as the recognition of the dangers of cigarette smoking, nothing had been found that dramatically reduces the incidence of the syndrome..." from http://www.pnc.com.au/~cafmr/newsl/kalo.html

I had this quote from somewhere..."Weese-Mayer's own research, published in 2003, found that infants who succumbed to SIDS were more likely to have a certain pattern in the serotonin transporter gene. Serotonin, among other things, influences the regulation of breathing, the heart and temperature. Another study published during 2001 found that a small subset of SIDS cases occurs in babies who have a mutation in a gene called SCN5A, which causes subtle cardiac rhythm disturbances during sleep."

So you see from these studies, genetics and other factors are what are believed to cause SIDS. But alas, no one still really knows! But it is clear to me that sleeping position is unrelated to true SIDS.

***************************************
Let me put this in perspective about the misleading stats:

10 years ago, 10 babies suffered crib death. No autopsies performed, so all 10 called SIDS.
Now 10 babies suffer crib death. Autopsies completed - 2 suffocated, three had tracheal abnormalities or other heart/health problems... 5 are mysteries, ala SIDS.

Viola. A 50% reduction in SIDS deaths in the past decade. BTS is taking the credit for it, and it's false statistics.

Info regarding this philosophy can be found on: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7706456/
***************************************

Lots of sites are connecting immunizations to SIDS, however I am still a strong supporter in childhood immunizations. That's a whole other debate that I'm not interested in getting into.

Why I am such a strong opposer to BTS? I am carrying on the work of my now-deceased MIL who spent the last decade of her life compiling the information contradicting the validity of BTS. She was a brilliant medical professional, and my doctors also support my decision. Her main concern was mothers getting a false sense of security that their babies could not suffer SIDS if they were put on their backs. That's blatantly wrong, and she wanted her moms to know that.

There are a few sites, and I won't argue that there are many that still claim BTS has reduced the stats. I believe otherwise, and that's my perogative; I, like you, must do what I feel best for my babies!

HTH!

Sandra (37) #3 tummy sleeper arrived 3/2/05!

[ThreeWashburns]

My son was diagnosed with reflux as an infant and I was told reflux babies should sleep on their side or their tummy which ever they preferred. He was also given meds to strengthen some muscle at the bottom of his esophagus and to help with the acid.

I agree with the opinion that sleeping position probably doesn't effect sids that significantly. How many of us were bottle fed and slept on our tummies and we all survived. Now that you have the OK from your pediatrician you can stop feeling guilty. I still worried about my son for awhile and slept with the monitor right next to my ear. But we got through it. Sometimes we took naps together while he was in the baby sling on top of me to keep him inclined a bit.

Good Luck!