PERIODIC BREATHING IN INFANTS CAN LEAD TO SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME

Periodic breathing is a period of regular respiration for as long as 20 seconds followed by the apneic periods of 10 seconds or less that occur at least 3 times in succession. Periodic breathing typically does not occur in neonates during their first 2 days of life. It is most frequently occurs during active sleep, but it can also happen in neonates are awake or quietly sleeping. While it is harmless and natural, first time parents sometimes find it quite worrisome. Many parents, especially the new ones, feel obliged to check their babys breathing many times during the night. Checking their baby as often as they can makes them feel better and comfortable. It may help the parents to know if possible cot death, or also known as sudden infant death syndrome to occur, although it is very rare. This result can be caused by excessive periodic breathing. It is unexpected infant death that is initially unexplained. No one knows why some babies die like this. There are some factors that may be the reason why it happens and some says that certain babies have a problem with the part of the brain which controls breathing.

As I interviewed my neighbors regarding how their baby breathe. I found out that there are some instances that they notice that their baby was making a weird and sometimes a loud sound while the baby sleeping. They panic and they wake up the baby. They thought that the baby has a bad dream or should I say binabangungot. I said that theres nothing to worry about because it is normal in the baby. According to Kelly (2011), in her research study, she discovered that periodic breathing is present in excessive amount during sleep in infants with near-miss sudden infant death syndrome. It is possible that it would happen to some infants anytime during their sleep and parents need close watch to their baby from time to time. Second month is the most common in cot death. While the baby grows older, risk of crib death is reduced. Crib death says that it is more common in winter and uncommon in Asian countries. These reasons are not yet understood. In the Philippines, crib death is very rare. However, there are other risk factors of crib death. Many Pilipino parents dont have any idea about cot death.

Nurses are the one who educate mother or father about what are the causes of this death and what are the possible causes of this death for them to prevent. These include the gender, which is most common in baby boy but the reason is unknown. Second is being born prematurely or before 37weeks and lastly being in a low birth weight (less than 2.5 kg).

There are some ways to reduce babys risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Put the baby to sleep on her back. This is the safest place for the baby. Baby placed on their back to sleep will not cause choke. The babies start to roll while sleeping around 6 months. At this point the risk of crib death reduces and let your baby find her own comfortable position. But you should still put your baby down to sleep on their back. Smoking cessation during pregnancy will affect the baby that can lead to other problems and sudden infant death as well.

Let the baby sleep in the firm, flat mattress, do not use pillows, sheets to be able to tighten the mattress not baggy. Do not put down the babys bed, toys or other soft things. These things can be accidentally cover the baby while their sleeping. If you must give the baby tucked to use a thin blanket to cover the baby only breast, and the remaining volume to the three sides under the mattress. If you feel cold baby, just give him wear a warm coat like, such as with gloves for the pajamas.

Keep the room where the baby sleeps in at a comfortable temperature. The babys body is prone to hypothermia. They cant produce body heat on their own. For the parents never place the baby in between during their sleep. There is a possibility that they accidentally cover their baby. It is safe that the baby is placed on the crib beside the bed. They can monitor the baby from time to time. they can now attend the needs of the baby and check the baby while sleeping. Breastfeeding can reduce the risk of crib death in infants. Breast milk or also called as colustrum from the breast of the mother containing of all nutrients that is needed by the baby. Breast milk helps to boost immune system of the baby.

In the Philippines according to the Health Grades Inc. which is updated last august 2011 the incidence of sudden infant death syndrome was 172, 483 which is very alarming. SIDS has cases all over the world. It is caused by several things one is the brain doesn't tell the infant to breathe and causes suffocation. If they breathe into a pillow large blanket or teddy they are breathing in what the breathed out resulting in suffocation as well. We should save our baby to crib death. Have a healthy living and love our babies until the end.

We'd all be worse without a nurse Mariz Ethell E. Nolasco BSN Batch 2012