September is Infant Mortality Awareness Month

Infant mortality: It’s not a topic many people WANT to discuss, but it is imperative that we do. At Healthier Moms & Babies, it’s at the forefront of what we do. It’s right there in our mission statement: To reduce infant mortality and improve the outcome of pregnancies in our community.

Infant mortality refers to the death of infants who are less than one year old. While infant mortality rates have declined significantly in many parts of the world due to advancements in healthcare and public health initiatives, several leading causes of infant mortality persist.

In 2020, 5,052 babies were born in Allen County, and of those, 10% were born preterm (over 500 of our tiniest neighbors). Prematurity is the leading cause of infant mortality. Our aim is to celebrate more firsts and help create a healthier community. A big part of what we do is educate expecting parents about the leading causes of infant mortality, and while these causes can vary by region and are influenced by factors such as healthcare access, socioeconomic status, and public health interventions, some common leading causes include:

• Preterm birth complications: Infants born prematurely (before 37 weeks of gestation) are at higher risk of health complications, including respiratory distress syndrome and infections, which can lead to death.

• Low birth weight: Low birth weight babies are at higher risk of health problems and mortality. Factors contributing to low birth weight can include preterm birth, poor maternal nutrition, and maternal health conditions.

• Maternal complications during pregnancy: Health problems in the mother, such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, or infections during pregnancy, can increase the risk of infant mortality.

• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS): SIDS is the unexplained death of an otherwise healthy infant under one year of age. It often occurs during sleep and is sometimes referred to as "crib death."

• Congenital anomalies: Birth defects or congenital anomalies are one of the leading causes of infant mortality. These can involve structural or functional abnormalities in various organs or systems.

  Infections: Serious infections, such as sepsis, pneumonia, and meningitis, can be life-threatening for infants, especially those with weakened immune systems.

• Unintentional injuries: Accidental injuries, such as suffocation, falls, and burns, can lead to infant mortality. These incidents may occur due to unsafe sleeping environments or lack of supervision.

• Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS): This condition primarily affects premature infants and is characterized by breathing difficulties due to underdeveloped lungs.

• Suffocation: Infants can be at risk of suffocation if they are placed in an unsafe sleeping environment, such as sleeping with pillows, blankets, or stuffed animals.

• Nutritional issues: Inadequate breastfeeding or improper feeding practices can lead to malnutrition and related complications in infants.

Our efforts to reduce infant mortality include improving prenatal care, promoting safe sleep practices, ensuring access to healthcare, and addressing social determinants of health.