Running head: REDUCING THE RISK OF SIDS BY BREASTFEEDING
Reducing the Risk of SIDS by Breastfeeding
Arron Herring
Methodist University
Research for Professional Nursing Practice
NUR 4010
Professor Barry
November 06, 2013
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REDUCING THE RISK OF SIDS BY BREASTFEEDING
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Reducing the Risk of SIDS by Breastfeeding
Introduction
This author will be discussing the issue of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) related
to breastfeeding. A guideline was chosen to study regarding breastfeeding and SIDS. The
articles discussed supported the guideline’s theory. Breastfeeding has many benefits for both the
mother and infant, one of which includes the reduction of SIDS. Different types of articles were
chosen by this author to provide a variety of information regarding breastfeeding and SIDS. This
author came to the conclusion based on the research done that breastfeeding exclusively or
having the infant receive some breast milk reduces the prevalence of SIDS.
Definition of Terms
Asphyxiation is to cause (someone) to stop breathing and often to become unconscious
and die (Merriam-Webster, 2009, p. 21). Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the
unexplained death, usually during sleep, of a seemingly healthy baby; also called crib death
("Definition," 2011). Co-sleeping is the practice of sleeping in the same bed with one’s infant or
young child ("Definition of co-sleeping," 2013).
PICO Question
The question as to whether or not breastfeeding reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death
Syndrome is questioned in this paper. Evidence for supporting this author’s PICO question is
presented and will be discussed. The reduction of risk of SIDS is being compared with how long
an infant is breastfed and if they are exclusively breastfed compared to being both bottle-fed and
breastfed. Ethnic and cultural factors are also briefly discussed. The outcome is to reduce the
risk of SIDS through breastfeeding and to educate mothers about breastfeeding and promotion of
breastfeeding among mothers.
REDUCING THE RISK OF SIDS BY BREASTFEEDING
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Literature Review
The articles reviewed by this author in Appendix A all supported the theory that
breastfeeding reduces the risk of SIDS in infants that are exclusively breastfed or received some
breast milk. Bainbridge (2011) states that the reasons for why breastfeeding reduces the risk of
SIDS are unclear, but breastfed babies have fewer respiratory infections and bouts of diarrhea (p.
467). Each article reviewed supports breastfeeding and recommends breastfeeding for all
mothers and infants. “Breastfeeding confers and important advantage on all children and the
incidence of sudden infant death syndrome is very low” (Callaghan, Kendall, Lock, Mahony,
Payne, & Verrier, 2005, p. 150).
The articles chosen by this author support the guideline. The guideline suggests that
breastfeeding reduces the risk of SIDS and the articles provide more information for why this
could be true. The recommendations from the guideline state that breastfeeding be discussed and
encouraged with mothers, and the articles also suggest this.
Therefore, this author learned that there are many benefits to breastfeeding including
reducing the risk of SIDS. By encouraging breastfeeding with mothers, SIDS could be lowered
even more if mothers were to participate.
Action Plan
Education is the key to promoting breastfeeding among the population of mothers.
Lactation nurses could be utilized to elaborate this information to mothers, or an in-service could
be held for nurses to be able to educate and advocate for these mothers. Each mother should be
questioned about what they know about breastfeeding and the benefits of breastfeeding to know
how knowledgeable they are about this issue. Nurses can provide pamphlets, instructional
REDUCING THE RISK OF SIDS BY BREASTFEEDING
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videos, etc. to provide these mothers with the information they need. (See Appendix B for
complete Plan, Do, Study, Act Plan)
The best way to encourage breastfeeding is by providing information and benefits of
breastfeeding to mothers. SIDS incidence could be recorded at a hospital and researched back to
which mothers breastfed or not. This would provide data to conclude whether breastfeeding
reduces the risk of SIDS. The data could be recorded from birth to twelve months for infant(s).
This would provide first-hand data that nurses could share with patients.
Follow-Up and Evaluation Plan
As discussed above, data could be collected in order to have current data. Education
should be provided to mothers and an in-service for nurses should also be done. The in-service
would provide information for the nurses to be able to advocate for their patients. Infants would
be followed for up to one year and the percentage of SIDS would be recorded. The ideal
outcome would be from birth to one year of age, percentage of SIDS would be reduced with
breastfeeding.
REDUCING THE RISK OF SIDS BY BREASTFEEDING
References
Asphyxiate. (2009). In Webster’s American English Dictionary (p. 21). Springfield, MA:
Merriam-Webster.
Bainbridge, J. (2011, July 2011). Breastfeeding and protection from SIDS. British Journal of
Midwifery, 19, 467.
Callaghan, A., Kendall, G., Lock, C., Mahony, A., Payne, J., & Verrier, L. (2005). Association
between pacifier use and breast-feeding, sudden infant death syndrome, infection and
dental malocclusion. Evidence Based Healthcare, 3, 147-167.
Co-sleeping. (2013). In Oxford Dictionaries. Retrieved from
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/co--sleeping
Suddent Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). (2011). Retrieved from
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sudden-infant-death-syndrome/DS00145
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