Guest guest Posted October 9, 2004 Report Share Posted October 9, 2004 Tami, Thanks for the SIDS info. Some of the facts you listed are new to me. I am happy to hear that there are studies that may help reduce the number of SIDS cases. Thanks. Marcy & (6 1/2 months old) DOC Band baby in NJ Brachycephaly > > > > > > > > > I had a discussion with a friend today that made me think quite > a > > > lot. Has anybody looked into any risks of Sudden Infant Death > > Syndrom > > > linked to wearing a helmet? (Everybody knows that babies loose > most > > > of their heat from the head, that covering their head can cause > > > overheating and that overheating is linked to SIDS.) > > > > > > > > > (, 14 months, STARband 29/09/04) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 11, 2004 Report Share Posted October 11, 2004 , I'm so glad that Tami and others had excellent information to put your concerns to rest. Personally, and I am not a medical professional, I did not link the use of the helmet to SIDS at all. Sue Colin F., 1 brachy,STARband Buffalo, NY > > > I had a discussion with a friend today that made me think quite a > lot. Has anybody looked into any risks of Sudden Infant Death Syndrom > linked to wearing a helmet? (Everybody knows that babies loose most > of their heat from the head, that covering their head can cause > overheating and that overheating is linked to SIDS.) > > > (, 14 months, STARband 29/09/04) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 11, 2004 Report Share Posted October 11, 2004 Hi , I just want to second what said. , mom to Makenna llumc helmet grad '03 > > > I had a discussion with a friend today that made me think quite a > lot. Has anybody looked into any risks of Sudden Infant Death Syndrom > linked to wearing a helmet? (Everybody knows that babies loose most > of their heat from the head, that covering their head can cause > overheating and that overheating is linked to SIDS.) > > > (, 14 months, STARband 29/09/04) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 26, 2006 Report Share Posted October 26, 2006 Don't you think that pediatric office in Chicago where the majority if not all their patients are unvaccinated would be a great place to look at this. I think it's called Home First. If they can do it with Autism, they can look at SIDS and many other disorders/dis-eases that likely don't exist among this popluation of children. Anita " Sheri B. " <tallchick1966@...> wrote: I'm behind on posts, so forgive me if anyone asked this but: are there any recorded cases of SIDS in an un-vaxed child? Sheri B. --------------------------------- How low will we go? Check out Messenger?s low PC-to-Phone call rates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 26, 2006 Report Share Posted October 26, 2006 I'm a little behind too, and I was thinking the same thing. Health & blessings, We're about Health, Opportunity... and doing what's right! http://www.shaklee.net/ExcitingHealth 1-866-312-8064 On 10/26/06, Sheri B. <tallchick1966@...> wrote: > > I'm behind on posts, so forgive me if anyone asked this but: are there > any recorded cases of SIDS in an un-vaxed child? > Sheri B. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 24, 2007 Report Share Posted September 24, 2007 At 03:59 PM 9/24/2007 -0000, you wrote: >On another group there was an article posted about SIDS acually being >vaccine death. Does anyone know how the medical community explains SIDS >being rare before 2 months if it isn't vaccine related? > The medical community can't/don't explain it all I have a webpage on the connection http://www.wellwithin1.com/SIDS.htm There was no SIDS described in old medical texts before vaccines were common. Sheri -------------------------------------------------------- Sheri Nakken, former R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Nevada City CA & Wales UK $$ Donations to help in the work - accepted by Paypal account earthmysteriestours@... voicemail US 530-740-0561 (go to http://www.paypal.com) or by mail Vaccines - http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/vaccine.htm or http://www.wellwithin1.com/vaccine.htm Vaccine Dangers On-Line course - http://www.wellwithin1.com/vaccineclass.htm Reality of the Diseases & Treatment - http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/vaccineclass.htm Homeopathy On-Line course - http://www.wellwithin1.com/homeo.htm NEXT CLASSES start by email October 17 & 18 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 24, 2007 Report Share Posted September 24, 2007 I am absolutely convinced that SIDS is caused by the chemicals in a baby's mattress. Of course, I'm sure some babies die from vaccines and this is also called SIDS, but a different thing completely. Please read this site I am posting, it explains everything flawlessly. Of course, sleeping baby on back helps because they are less likely to breath in the toxic gasses from mattress, but how do you make your baby stay on his back. My baby these past few nights rolls over on his stomach. It's just convenient for everyone to blame vaccine deaths on SIDS....but I don't believe that babies just die for no reason at all.....there is always a reason, vaccines or any other kind of toxins. http://www.childbirthsolutions.com/articles/news/cotdeath.php > >On another group there was an article posted about SIDS acually being > >vaccine death. Does anyone know how the medical community explains SIDS > >being rare before 2 months if it isn't vaccine related? > > > > The medical community can't/don't explain it all > > I have a webpage on the connection > http://www.wellwithin1.com/SIDS.htm > > There was no SIDS described in old medical texts before vaccines were common. > > Sheri > > -------------------------------------------------------- > Sheri Nakken, former R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath > Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Nevada City CA & Wales UK > $$ Donations to help in the work - accepted by Paypal account > earthmysteriestours@... voicemail US 530-740-0561 > (go to http://www.paypal.com) or by mail > Vaccines - http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/vaccine.htm or > http://www.wellwithin1.com/vaccine.htm > Vaccine Dangers On-Line course - http://www.wellwithin1.com/vaccineclass.htm > Reality of the Diseases & Treatment - > http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/vaccineclass.htm > Homeopathy On-Line course - http://www.wellwithin1.com/homeo.htm > NEXT CLASSES start by email October 17 & 18 > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 25, 2007 Report Share Posted September 25, 2007 At 12:02 AM 9/25/2007 -0000, you wrote: >I am absolutely convinced that SIDS is caused by the chemicals in a >baby's mattress. Of course, I'm sure some babies die from vaccines >and this is also called SIDS, but a different thing completely. >Please read this site I am posting, it explains everything >flawlessly. Of course, sleeping baby on back helps because they are >less likely to breath in the toxic gasses from mattress, but how do >you make your baby stay on his back. My baby these past few nights >rolls over on his stomach. >It's just convenient for everyone to blame vaccine deaths on >SIDS....but I don't believe that babies just die for no reason at >all.....there is always a reason, vaccines or any other kind of >toxins. > >http://www.childbirthsolutions.com/articles/news/cotdeath.php > > I know that that is very possible as a cause, but I would suggest that the vaccines also may be a factor, contributing to being susceptible to the mattress. Lots of evidence for the vaccine issue and NO SIDS ever mentioned before vaccines were begun in the 40s Certainly good to not have a toxic mattress either Sheri -------------------------------------------------------- Sheri Nakken, former R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Nevada City CA & Wales UK $$ Donations to help in the work - accepted by Paypal account earthmysteriestours@... voicemail US 530-740-0561 (go to http://www.paypal.com) or by mail Vaccines - http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/vaccine.htm or http://www.wellwithin1.com/vaccine.htm Vaccine Dangers On-Line course - http://www.wellwithin1.com/vaccineclass.htm Reality of the Diseases & Treatment - http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/vaccineclass.htm Homeopathy On-Line course - http://www.wellwithin1.com/homeo.htm NEXT CLASSES start by email October 17 & 18 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 25, 2007 Report Share Posted September 25, 2007 I think the mercury in the vaccines throws a wrench in the works upsetting detox systems most probably and then antimony cannot be denatured and excreted properly. Mercury binds to sulphur and upsets the sulphation system which plays an important role in detox. Re: Re: SIDS At 12:02 AM 9/25/2007 -0000, you wrote: >I am absolutely convinced that SIDS is caused by the chemicals in a >baby's mattress. Of course, I'm sure some babies die from vaccines >and this is also called SIDS, but a different thing completely. >Please read this site I am posting, it explains everything >flawlessly. Of course, sleeping baby on back helps because they are >less likely to breath in the toxic gasses from mattress, but how do >you make your baby stay on his back. My baby these past few nights >rolls over on his stomach. >It's just convenient for everyone to blame vaccine deaths on >SIDS....but I don't believe that babies just die for no reason at >all.....there is always a reason, vaccines or any other kind of >toxins. > >http://www.childbirthsolutions.com/articles/news/cotdeath.php > > I know that that is very possible as a cause, but I would suggest that the vaccines also may be a factor, contributing to being susceptible to the mattress. Lots of evidence for the vaccine issue and NO SIDS ever mentioned before vaccines were begun in the 40s Certainly good to not have a toxic mattress either Sheri -------------------------------------------------------- Sheri Nakken, former R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Nevada City CA & Wales UK $$ Donations to help in the work - accepted by Paypal account earthmysteriestours@... voicemail US 530-740-0561 (go to http://www.paypal.com) or by mail Vaccines - http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/vaccine.htm or http://www.wellwithin1.com/vaccine.htm Vaccine Dangers On-Line course - http://www.wellwithin1.com/vaccineclass.htm Reality of the Diseases & Treatment - http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/vaccineclass.htm Homeopathy On-Line course - http://www.wellwithin1.com/homeo.htm NEXT CLASSES start by email October 17 & 18 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 25, 2007 Report Share Posted September 25, 2007 I don't think it's just the mercury, maybe not even the mercury at all, I think it's a combination of all the toxins, our weakened systems and the fake food, and lack of breastfeeding that is killing us all. Re: Re: SIDS At 12:02 AM 9/25/2007 -0000, you wrote: >I am absolutely convinced that SIDS is caused by the chemicals in a >baby's mattress. Of course, I'm sure some babies die from vaccines >and this is also called SIDS, but a different thing completely. >Please read this site I am posting, it explains everything >flawlessly. Of course, sleeping baby on back helps because they are >less likely to breath in the toxic gasses from mattress, but how do >you make your baby stay on his back. My baby these past few nights >rolls over on his stomach. >It's just convenient for everyone to blame vaccine deaths on >SIDS....but I don't believe that babies just die for no reason at >all.....there is always a reason, vaccines or any other kind of >toxins. > >http://www.childbir thsolutions. com/articles/ news/cotdeath. php > > I know that that is very possible as a cause, but I would suggest that the vaccines also may be a factor, contributing to being susceptible to the mattress. Lots of evidence for the vaccine issue and NO SIDS ever mentioned before vaccines were begun in the 40s Certainly good to not have a toxic mattress either Sheri ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- -------- Sheri Nakken, former R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Nevada City CA & Wales UK $$ Donations to help in the work - accepted by Paypal account earthmysteriestours @tesco.net voicemail US 530-740-0561 (go to http://www.paypal. com) or by mail Vaccines - http://www.nccn. net/~wwithin/ vaccine.htm or http://www.wellwith in1.com/vaccine. htm Vaccine Dangers On-Line course - http://www.wellwith in1.com/vaccinec lass.htm Reality of the Diseases & Treatment - http://www.nccn. net/~wwithin/ vaccineclass. htm Homeopathy On-Line course - http://www.wellwith in1.com/homeo. htm NEXT CLASSES start by email October 17 & 18 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 25, 2007 Report Share Posted September 25, 2007 In a message dated 9/25/2007 6:29:51 AM Eastern Daylight Time, vidamarino@... writes: I am absolutely convinced that SIDS is caused by the chemicals in a baby's mattress. I was fortunate enough to find out about this as well. has a matress cover in her crib. She doesn't wish to co-sleep, so she's not in w/us. Holly ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 25, 2007 Report Share Posted September 25, 2007 Mt babies have organic mattresses, even in the cosleeper. My question was more about how doctors can explain SIDS being rare in the first couple months whan it would seem an infant would be more fragile. I'm sure there's a comeback in the " Doctor's BS answers for vaccine questioning parents " handbook. I've just never heard it. When my son had a close call the day after his 2 month shots (his sensor monitor went off during his nap) the doctor blamed my monitor and said shots actually prevent SIDS. Injecting toxins prevents death? What a concept. Marie Quisenberry leesamarie2828@... Re: Re: SIDS At 12:02 AM 9/25/2007 -0000, you wrote: >I am absolutely convinced that SIDS is caused by the chemicals in a >baby's mattress. Of course, I'm sure some babies die from vaccines >and this is also called SIDS, but a different thing completely. >Please read this site I am posting, it explains everything >flawlessly. Of course, sleeping baby on back helps because they are >less likely to breath in the toxic gasses from mattress, but how do >you make your baby stay on his back. My baby these past few nights >rolls over on his stomach. >It's just convenient for everyone to blame vaccine deaths on >SIDS....but I don't believe that babies just die for no reason at >all.....there is always a reason, vaccines or any other kind of >toxins. > >http://www.childbir thsolutions. com/articles/ news/cotdeath. php > > I know that that is very possible as a cause, but I would suggest that the vaccines also may be a factor, contributing to being susceptible to the mattress. Lots of evidence for the vaccine issue and NO SIDS ever mentioned before vaccines were begun in the 40s Certainly good to not have a toxic mattress either Sheri ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- -------- Sheri Nakken, former R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Nevada City CA & Wales UK $$ Donations to help in the work - accepted by Paypal account earthmysteriestours @tesco.net voicemail US 530-740-0561 (go to http://www.paypal. com) or by mail Vaccines - http://www.nccn. net/~wwithin/ vaccine.htm or http://www.wellwith in1.com/vaccine. htm Vaccine Dangers On-Line course - http://www.wellwith in1.com/vaccinec lass.htm Reality of the Diseases & Treatment - http://www.nccn. net/~wwithin/ vaccineclass. htm Homeopathy On-Line course - http://www.wellwith in1.com/homeo. htm NEXT CLASSES start by email October 17 & 18 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 25, 2007 Report Share Posted September 25, 2007 At 07:15 AM 9/25/2007 -0700, you wrote: >Mt babies have organic mattresses, even in the cosleeper. My question was more about how doctors can explain SIDS being rare in the first couple months whan it would seem an infant would be more fragile. I'm sure there's a comeback in the " Doctor's BS answers for vaccine questioning parents " handbook. I've just never heard it. When my son had a close call the day after his 2 month shots (his sensor monitor went off during his nap) the doctor blamed my monitor and said shots actually prevent SIDS. Injecting toxins prevents death? What a concept. > > Marie Quisenberry >leesamarie2828@... I understand. Good point -but I'm sure they have some explanation. yes, what a concept Sheri >> -------------------------------------------------------- Sheri Nakken, former R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Nevada City CA & Wales UK $$ Donations to help in the work - accepted by Paypal account earthmysteriestours@... voicemail US 530-740-0561 (go to http://www.paypal.com) or by mail Vaccines - http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/vaccine.htm or http://www.wellwithin1.com/vaccine.htm Vaccine Dangers On-Line course - http://www.wellwithin1.com/vaccineclass.htm Reality of the Diseases & Treatment - http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/vaccineclass.htm Homeopathy On-Line course - http://www.wellwithin1.com/homeo.htm NEXT CLASSES start by email October 17 & 18 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 26, 2007 Report Share Posted September 26, 2007 While I'm sure the chemicals in mattresses are HORRID and contribute greatly to SIDS, didn't " cribdeath " as it was called in the 1800's exist? That was pre-vaccine and pre-chemical-laden mattresses? Sheri B. www.shaklee.net/simplevitality Products in harmony with Nature Find out why we've been around for 50 years --------------------------------- Don't let your dream ride pass you by. Make it a reality with Autos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 26, 2007 Report Share Posted September 26, 2007 If you are convinced it is because of the mattress get a non toxic one. Here is the best one I found. I wouldn't trust a mattress cover with my childs life and health. http://www.healthychild.com/natural-organic-mattress-bedding.html > > > In a message dated 9/25/2007 6:29:51 AM Eastern Daylight Time, > vidamarino@... writes: > > I am absolutely convinced that SIDS is caused by the chemicals in a > baby's mattress. > > > I was fortunate enough to find out about this as well. has a matress > cover in her crib. She doesn't wish to co-sleep, so she's not in w/us. > > Holly > > > > ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 26, 2007 Report Share Posted September 26, 2007 However, arsenic and phosphorus are also found in wool.......but definitely better than ordinary mattress. The mattress cover is of guaranteed thickness and was made by the scientist that discovered the chemicals in the mattress, I feel quite secure with this, but still do sleep my baby on his back too (although he turns on his tummy at times.) Like I said before, my husband has never even heard of SIDS before now so is not really convinced that it even exists, so getting a new mattress now is out of the question...it was hard enough to convince him that vaccines are worthless and dangerous. His brother tried so hard to convince him that I was crazy and that vaccines have saved the world and that they are not dangerous. It took a lot of arguing and crying on my part to get him to listen to me, it even got to the point where I was making it clear I would not stay with him if he would not side with me (of course I wouldn't have left him, but I felt desperate.) Luckily, his mom agrees with me. Also, my son got only 4 vaccines on month two (big mistake, which I regret to this day) and none month 4 and my husband sees how happy and healthy and active he is and now realizes we are making the right choice not to vaccinate. Also, the more time he spends in the U.S. the more he hears the words autism, ADHD, asthma, and so on. > > > > > > In a message dated 9/25/2007 6:29:51 AM Eastern Daylight Time, > > vidamarino@ writes: > > > > I am absolutely convinced that SIDS is caused by the chemicals in a > > baby's mattress. > > > > > > I was fortunate enough to find out about this as well. has a > matress > > cover in her crib. She doesn't wish to co-sleep, so she's not in w/us. > > > > Holly > > > > > > > > ************************************** See what's new at > http://www.aol.com > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 27, 2007 Report Share Posted September 27, 2007 In a message dated 9/26/2007 12:01:52 PM Eastern Daylight Time, heather@... writes: If you are convinced it is because of the mattress get a non toxic one. Here is the best one I found. I wouldn't trust a mattress cover with my childs life and health. If that is the case, then I don't see why we should trust the mattress itself. Many of the organic ones are treated w/fire resistance chemicals. Maybe the best way to go is buy organic mattress AND get a mattress cover. I will be doing both for my next child, whenever that may happen. Holly ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 27, 2007 Report Share Posted September 27, 2007 I have organic mattresses, mattress covers, organic sheets, etc. I figure they spend so much time in the crib I want it as safe as possible. Marie Quisenberry leesamarie2828@... Re: Re: SIDS In a message dated 9/26/2007 12:01:52 PM Eastern Daylight Time, heathersnobuni (DOT) com writes: If you are convinced it is because of the mattress get a non toxic one. Here is the best one I found. I wouldn't trust a mattress cover with my childs life and health. If that is the case, then I don't see why we should trust the mattress itself. Many of the organic ones are treated w/fire resistance chemicals. Maybe the best way to go is buy organic mattress AND get a mattress cover. I will be doing both for my next child, whenever that may happen. Holly ************ ********* ********* ******** See what's new at http://www.aol. com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 28, 2007 Report Share Posted September 28, 2007 I'll just jump in here for my .02. I think it did exist back then, but, as with things like autism, there's " natural " occurrences of it and then there's occurrences of it in modern times due to polluting influences (environment, vaccines, etc.). -Angie On Sep 26, 2007, at 10:12 AM, Sheri B. wrote: > While I'm sure the chemicals in mattresses are HORRID and > contribute greatly to SIDS, didn't " cribdeath " as it was called in > the 1800's exist? That was pre-vaccine and pre-chemical-laden > mattresses? > > Sheri B. > > > www.shaklee.net/simplevitality > Products in harmony with Nature > Find out why we've been around for 50 years > > > --------------------------------- > Don't let your dream ride pass you by. Make it a reality with > Autos. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 30, 2007 Report Share Posted September 30, 2007 In my research it is never mentioned before vaccine era Sheri > > > While I'm sure the chemicals in mattresses are HORRID and > > contribute greatly to SIDS, didn't " cribdeath " as it was called in > > the 1800's exist? That was pre-vaccine and pre-chemical-laden > > mattresses? > > > > Sheri B. > > > > > > www.shaklee.net/simplevitality > > Products in harmony with Nature > > Find out why we've been around for 50 years > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > Don't let your dream ride pass you by. Make it a reality with > > Autos. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 30, 2007 Report Share Posted September 30, 2007 This article might of interest on this subject: http://www.ecu.edu/cs-dhs/medhum/newsletter/v6n1cribdeath.cfm Sheri B. Volume 6: Number 1 Spring 2003 In this Issue: The Social and Medical History of Crib Death Todd L. Savitt Ph.D. History is more than a compilation of dates and facts on a particular subject. This article will look at a condition which has existed since ancient times and has had a varied history owing to changes in societal attitudes and medical knowledge over the centuries—Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), commonly known as crib death. While the precise cause of SIDS is not clear, we can describe its usual manifestations and epidemiological patterns. The Second International Conference on Causes of Sudden Death in Infants (1969) defined SIDS as: “The sudden death of any infant or young child which is unexpected by history, and in which a thorough post-mortem examination fails to demonstrate an adequate cause for death.” This is still the most accepted definition. SIDS is an important cause of post-neonatal (28 days to one year) deaths in the United States (and world-wide), accounting for 0.77 deaths for every 1,000 live births. A few SIDS deaths occur during the first few weeks of life, gradually peaking between two and four months of age, and then declining over the next several months, until the age of 12 to 15 months. More deaths occur in the colder months of the year, and almost all deaths occur during sleep. SIDS strikes African Americans and Native Americans more frequently than Caucasians and people of Asian/Pacific Island and Hispanic origin, and occurs more often among families of low socio-economic status. In the last several years, SIDS deaths have declined dramatically, as parents have learned to put their young infants to sleep on their backs rather than on their bellies. The sequence of events in a typical case description of a crib death is: An apparently thriving two-month-old boy is found dead face down in his crib. Except for a brief mild rhinorrhea during the previous week, the child has been in excellent health from birth. At a routine well-baby check by the family doctor a few days prior to the event, he appeared robust and free of problems. On the night of death, he took his formula eagerly and was put down in his crib about 10 p.m. His mother looked in before retiring; he was sleeping peacefully on his abdomen with his face to the side. When found at 6:30 a.m., he had obviously been dead for several hours. In other cases, parents sleeping with an infant awaken to find the child dead and assume that, as one distraught mother wrote to a physician, “I had smothered her sometime during the night.” The response from community members has often been negative and accusatory: they assume the parents have been negligent and careless in managing the child, or worse, that they actually abused the infant. Medical researchers did not recognize SIDS as a distinct entity until the mid-1940s; physicians and the public did not generally accept its existence until the 1970s. Because of this lack of recognition of SIDS until recently, parents or nurses of children dead of this disorder have been held responsible and punished or not depending on religious and societal attitudes of the period. Is it possible for a historian to identify SIDS in earlier times? Using both descriptive and quantitative evidence, it can be shown that most infant deaths attributed to either accidental overlaying of the child by a parent or nurse while sleeping, or to accidental smothering of the child in its own bedclothes, pillows, or covers, were actually instances of SIDS. Descriptions of these phenomena from all periods bear a striking resemblance to modern case histories. For example, an overseer and a planter on a Virginia plantation wrote the following about the death of a slave infant: I [iel , overseer] am sorry to inform you [Edmund Hubard, slave owner] that Matilda has lost her youngest child she over laid it, it was well and hearty when she went to bed and found it dead sometime in the night. Last week [wrote Hubard to his brother, Edmund] Tilla overlaid/when asleep/and killed her youngest child – a boy 6 or 7 months old. This was no doubt caused by her own want of care and attention. A 16th-century Florentine couple claimed to church authorities that they had smothered their child “accidentally while sleeping, and without any consciousness on their part of killing.” A 17th-century English diarist wrote: “It pleas’d God to take away my son , being now a moneth old, yet without any sickness of danger perceivably, being to all appearance a most likely child; we suspected much (that) the nurse had overlayne him….” An official board of inquest in 17th-century Plymouth Colony decided of a 6-month-old child found dead in bed lying between its nurse and sister that “either it was stiffled by lying on its face or accidentally over layed in the bed.” The quantitative data are also convincing. Dr. Arnold Paltauf of Vienna presented tables, in an 1889 article on sudden unexplained infant deaths, showing that 59% of these children died between the ages of two and four months. A Surgeon of Police in Dundee, Scotland, reported in 1892 that of 258 instances of “overlaying” investigated between 1882 and 1891, 60% (154) were children two to four months old, and 62% (159) occurred between October and March, the cold months of the year. Two years later, the editors of the British Medical Journal complained about the high number of overlaying deaths during the winter. Of interest historically is the attitude people had toward the overlaying and smothering of infants. Sudden unexpected and unexplained infant deaths were not matters in which police and the courts showed much interest until the 17th or 18th century. Before this, overlaying and smothering were matters dealt with by parents and church (rather than civil) officials. Until the early 19th century, these infant deaths were considered a social rather than a medical problem, and as such, were not the subject of anatomical or physiological scrutiny. During medieval times overlaying was, according to historian R. H. Helmholz, “the principal means of infanticide and the major problem for the Church courts.” In ecclesiastical legislation, overlaying was associated with infanticide despite the usually recognized accidental nature of the incident. The law assumed that negligence or carelessness had to be involved in overlaying, and that despite parents’ lack of intent to kill, a church crime had been committed which required punishment. The degree of punishment could be lessened for such unintentional infanticide, but absolution was out of the question. Throughout the medieval period and on into the Renaissance, ecclesiastical rather than secular courts handled cases of infanticide, including accidental suffocation. The punishment meted out for both intentional and accidental infanticide was always far lighter than for murder of an adult. As early as about 700 A.D., the precedent for a lighter penance in cases of overlaying than of accidental adult murder had been established. The former required a penance of three years, one of them on bread and water, whereas the latter required similar punishment for five years, three of them on bread and water. This apparently lax attitude toward infant life, as demonstrated both by the total absence of secular, criminal prosecutions in cases of infanticide, and lighter punishments for accidental deaths of infants compared to adults, is also expressed in a set of 14th century instructions for English parish priests. In these instructions, casually inserted along with failure to be a good Samaritan and quarreling with one’s wife, is the venial (pardonable) sin of overlaying one’s child. Still, overlaying – recognized as accidental– was regarded as a sin to which parish priests were alerted. That the Church was also interested in preserving the life of the child is indicated by the many injunctions in medieval Church legislation against parents taking infants into their beds upon pain of punishment should overlaying occur. During the Renaissance, penance was still required, but harsher punishments were meted out in 16th century Florence to unwed mothers whose infants were suffocated and to old women accused of being witches who killed children and replaced them in parents’ beds. To protect infants from accidental smothering in bedclothes, Florentine craftsmen developed a device called an arcuccio (little arch), which fitted over the crib and prevented the blankets from lying directly on the child. It also contained cutouts on either side so that the mother or nurse could breast feed during the night without fear of rolling over and smothering the child. This device apparently gained some acceptance in England during the 18th century and was still in use in parts of Italy in the 1890s. Slowly, a transition from prosecution for infanticide in ecclesiastical courts to secular courts occurred, paralleling the gradual movement away from Church authority during the Enlightenment, and the increasing ability of medical personnel to perform autopsies on infants and to determine the causes of death. By the early 19th century, civil and coroner’s courts were investigating cases of overlaying and smothering to determine cause of death. As clinical-pathological correlations, popularized by publication in 1763 of Giovanni Morgagni’s On the Seats and Causes of Disease, and pathological anatomy, as taught at the French medical schools beginning in the 1790s, began to influence medical thought, a new concept of the cause of these infant deaths arose. Several physicians noted that the thymus glands of infants allegedly overlaid or smothered were quite large. They postulated that the gland (a) impinged on the trachea, cutting off the airway or the blood supply to the head, ( somehow caused adverse stimulation of nerves controlling respiration, resulting in suffocation, or © grew so large as to reduce the size of the thoracic cavity, thereby affecting function of both heart and lungs. The condition became known as “thymic asthma” and gained some acceptance both in Europe and America. Though further medical investigations by German physician Friedleben revealed in 1858 that the thymus could not cause the sudden death of an infant, the theory persisted. In 1889 a Viennese physician, Arnold Paltauf, elaborated on the thymic theory, claiming that a complex of bodily changes based on nutritional and constitutional deficiencies was the cause of sudden deaths of infants alone in cribs or in beds with parents. He called this diathesis status thymico-lymphaticus. Not until 1931 did a committee of pathologists study this condition and conclude that it had no “existence as a pathological entity.” The thymic theory did, however, create a more humanitarian attitude toward nurses and mothers accused of negligence, as this German case from the 1880s illustrates: A servant girl was entrusted with the care of an infant who was sleeping in its cradle near her. In the morning the previously healthy baby was found dead in the cradle. The girl was imprisoned, and the authorities ordered an autopsy, which was performed by Liman & Grawitz. Liman was unable to disprove Grawitz’ contention that death was attributable to a colossally enlarged thymus pressing on trachea, bronchi, and vessels. The magistrate released the woman…. Discussions of the cause of sudden unexplained infant deaths was quite confused toward the end of the 19th century. Contrast the above statement from Germany in the 1880s with this one by the Surgeon of Police of Dundee, Scotland, in 1892: The principal causes producing this great mortality from overlaying are – 1. Ignorance and carelessness of mothers; 2. drunkenness; 3. overcrowding; and 4. according to some observers, illegitimacy and the (life) insurance of infants. He advocated passage of a law prohibiting parents from sleeping with their infants, and strenuous prosecution of parents whose children died under these conditions. Compare this attitude with that of two French writers in 1895 who claimed that nurses should not be blamed for smothering or overlaying infants. Their research showed that specific respiratory ailments were the true cause of death. Finally, to add to the uncertainty, the British Medical Journal published a letter in 1905 on sudden death and the thymus gland which closed with the following statement: In (Sir ) Osler’s (textbook of) Medicine, under “Diseases of the Thymus Gland,” it is stated that enlargement of the gland is a recognized cause of sudden infant death in infants, owing either to its direct pressure on the trachea or to its pressure on the pneumogastric (vagus nerve) causing spasm of the glottis. So confusion was rife as the new century began.In (Sir ) Osler’s (textbook of) Medicine, under “Diseases of the Thymus Gland,” it is stated that enlargement of the gland is a recognized cause of sudden infant death in infants, owing either to its direct pressure on the trachea or to its pressure on the pneumogastric (vagus nerve) causing spasm of the glottis. So confusion was rife as the new century began. Research continued during the early 20th century as more physicians recognized that there were other possible explanations for these infant deaths. Parents and nurses were still often blamed for negligence in the care of their children who died of what people assumed was overlaying or suffocation in bedclothes, sheets, pillows, etc. For example, a New York physician, working under the auspices of the Special Committee on Infant Mortality, condemned, in a 1944 issue of the Journal of Pediatrics, the practice “of placing for feeding the unattended infant in its mother’s bed where death from overlaying may be caused by the mother who falls asleep.” He also noted that inattention to the style, weight, and fit of infant clothing, and the misuse of pillows, rubber sheets, easily untucked sheets and blankets, and unnecessary decorative articles for cribs and carriages were potential causes of infant suffocation. During the early 1940s, researchers studied and challenged the concept of mechanical suffocation of infants. Doctors Werne and Irene Garrow of the Queens County, N.Y., Medical Examiner’s Office published a series of articles between 1942 and 1953 demonstrating that fulminating infection was the likely cause of alleged mechanical suffocations in infants. Their work drew widespread attention to the issue of sudden unexplained infant deaths. Dr. V. Woolley, Jr., of Portland, Oregon, writing in 1945, noted that children invariably find an airway regardless of the position in which they are sleeping or the impediments (blankets, sheets, breast, bottle, mother’s body) put in their way, and so complemented the ideas of Werne and Garrow. His conclusion marked the start of a new era in thinking about sudden unexplained infant deaths by calling for a complete autopsy examination with full recourse to modern bacteriologic techniques: in every unexplained death of an infant. When this is done and still nothing is found, nor has incontrovertible evidence of suffocation been elicited, perhaps we should . . . admit that we are ignorant of the cause of death, thereby saving the family the stigma of having allowed their baby to smother in the bedclothes. Since then a growing knowledge of SIDS has helped reduce the guilt of parents and created an entirely different atmosphere in which to conduct research. (This article is based on Savitt, T. “The Social and Medical History of Crib Death,” Journal of the Florida Medical Association 1979; 66, 8: 853-59. Complete references can be found therein.) www.shaklee.net/simplevitality Products in harmony with Nature Find out why we've been around for 50 years --------------------------------- Got a little couch potato? Check out fun summer activities for kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 30, 2007 Report Share Posted September 30, 2007 That's really interesting, Sheri, thanks! Probably a lot of SIDS deaths were attributed to cosleeping, which may be one reason it is given such a bad reputation in modern (western) times. -Angie On Sep 30, 2007, at 10:03 AM, Sheri B. wrote: > This article might of interest on this subject: > http://www.ecu.edu/cs-dhs/medhum/newsletter/v6n1cribdeath.cfm > Sheri B. > > Volume 6: Number 1 Spring 2003 > In this Issue: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 23, 2008 Report Share Posted January 23, 2008 crib deaths and fungus http://www.healbuildings.com/crib_deaths.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 > > crib deaths and fungus > http://www.healbuildings.com/crib_deaths.html > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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