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Article: Premature babies at greater risk for sudden infant death
- Article from:
- Charleston Gazette
- Article date:
- March 3, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2003 Charleston Gazette. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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CHICAGO - Stomach-sleeping is more common among babies born
extremely prematurely, even though they face a much higher risk of
sudden infant death syndrome than larger babies, a study suggests.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants sleep
on their backs to reduce the risk of SIDS and was involved in a 1990s
"Back-to-Sleep" campaign that helped reduce the nationwide SIDS rate
by more than 40 percent.
While stomach sleeping decreased during that time, SIDS still
kills nearly 3,000 infants each year - and premature babies face a
disproportionate risk.
Some parents and doctors may mistakenly believe "that the 'back to
sleep' message perhaps doesn't apply to low-birthweight or ...