SIDS cases and Infant Mortality on the Eastern Shore

EASTERN SHORE, Md. – There’s been a spike in cases of sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, across the country, and the Eastern Shore is seeing that increase locally too, but not nearly to the same extent.

Local doctors say easier access to maternal and prenatal health care for women is helping regulate that number.

Health officials say of every one thousand infant births a year, five infants are lost. That is five children whose lives are taken too soon.

Emergency Physician Kerry Forrestal says that SIDS is to blame for this rise in unknown infant mortality.

“I can tell you we have had them in my career far too often,” Dr. Forrestal said. “The parents that suffer a SIDS death feel a great deal of guilt, and they shouldn’t.

Dr. Forrestal says using breast milk has shown to reduce chances of SIDS, also saying parents should always check the ingredients in any formula given to a newborn.

Sleeping in the same room, and not the same bed as your baby, can also help because you are right there beside your kid in the case of an emergency.

Another important thing to do to lower infant deaths is to make sure everyone has equitable access to health care.

“Locally, there has been a lot of effort to do that especially to minority populations, but as a nation we are not doing so good.”

“White babies are dying at about half of the rate as black babies and other minority groups.”

Health officials also say that on the national level infant mortality rates may be rising because of restricted access to prenatal and maternal care under the overturn of Roe v. Wade.