Unexpected infant death (or sudden infant death) is described as any sudden death that occurs before the child is 2 years old. It is sometimes unexplained. But it can also be linked to certain pathologies, to a sleeping accident or sometimes to the violence suffered.
A study by the National Institute of Health in the United States reveals that other external factors may come into play. This is the case for alcohol and tobacco. From 2007 to 2015, scientists followed almost 12,000 pregnancies. During this work, 66 babies died, including 28 from sudden infant death syndrome.
The authors observed that when the mother smoked and drank during her pregnancy, the risk of sudden death was multiplied by 12! When she “only” smoked beyond the first trimester, the risk was 5 times higher, and 4 times, when she “only” drank.
“Our results support the current recommendation from the World Health Organization that women should not drink or smoke during pregnancy,” conclude the authors. “It also highlights that double exposure poses a greater risk of infant mortality. “
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Source: Destination Santé
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