BABY SAFE HAVEN

Also known as the Newborn Protection Act 201

The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare has implemented a safe haven law which allows parents to turn over their unwanted newborns to any hospital as an alternative to abandonment, or worse. When a young woman is pregnant and not prepared for the responsibilities of parenthood, often they are afraid and are unsure of where to turn for help. The safe haven program provides a safe, legal and confidential option for them and their child."

Throughout the state of Pennsylvania, there are around 270 hospitals in which parents can safely and anonymously turn over their children up to 28 days old if they are unable to care for the child or do not want it. GroveCityMedicalCenter is a safe haven.

How it Works:

Babies can be given to any hospital staff memberwhen the parent expresses orally or through conduct that they intend for the hospital to accept the infant.

The staff member accepting the infant is to take it to the Emergency Room where it will be examined by a physician. All babies turned over to the hospital will receive the medical attention they need no matter what. Parents will not have to pay for the medical treatment.

What happens to the Baby?

For all babies turned into a safe haven hospital, the county's child and youth agency will help to find the child a suitable and loving home in the state through Pennsylvania's foster care system.

What happens to the parents?

The parents handing over the child will not be asked any questions unless the baby is injured or sick. It is recommended, but not required, that the parent provide medical information for the baby.

The parent will not be held criminally liable if the newborn is not a victim of child abuse or criminal conduct.

If the parent changes her/his mind and wishes to have the infant returned, they must talk to the county’s child and youth agency.

The purpose of the safe haven program is to find unwanted infants loving homes and to help parents who can not care for children find a safe place to turn over their babies.

For more information and to learn more about the safe haven program, visit or call toll-free, 1-866-921-SAFE (7233).

SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME

ABUSIVE HEAD TRAUMA

A Preventable Tragedy

Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS)is the term used to describe the signs and symptoms resulting from a child being shaken. Shaking a baby is dangerous because:

  • Ababy's head is large and heavy in proportion to the baby's body.
  • There is space between the brain and skull to allow for growth and development.
  • The baby's neck muscles are not yet developed.

Violently shaking a baby or young child forces the head to whip back and forth, causing blood vessels in the brain and eyes to rip and bleed. In addition, this motion causes the brain to move and bounce against the skull which can cause brain damage. Shaking a baby can cause:

  • blindness
  • brokenbones
  • cerebral palsy

Shaken Baby Syndrome PA Legislation

  • Act No. 2002 - 176, Shaken Baby Syndrome Education and Prevention Program signed in December 2002.
  • Requires hospitals to:
  • Provide parents educational materials on SBS free of charge.
  • Present parents with a voluntarily commitment statement indicating that they have receivedthe educational materials.
  • Charged the Department of Health to develop a program to focus on awareness, education and prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome.

Shaken Baby SyndromeFacts

  • In the United States, the yearly rate of SBS is between 750 and 3,750 infants.
  • One third of the victims of SBS survive with few or no consequences, one third of the victims suffer permanent injury and one third of the victims die.
  • Most victims are males under one year of age.
  • SBS most often occurs when an adult is frustrated and angry because the baby won't stop crying.
  • Toilet training difficulties and feeding problems can also lead to SBS.

“Saving babies' lives one family at a time."

Shaken Baby Syndrome usually results from a parent or

caregiver shaking a baby because the baby would not stop

crying. Since crying is the primary reason that infants are

shaken, it is important to inform parents, when their baby is born, how to deal with the frustrations of a crying baby as well as to equip them with effective parenting and coping

strategies. Educated parents are then advocates for their child’s safety. They are encouraged to share this information with others who may care for their child such as relatives, friends, and childcare providers.

Below are some tips we can offer to parents and others on how to deal with a crying child:

■ Babies can cry a lot in the first few months of life and this can be frustrating. But it will

get better.

■ Remember, you are not a bad parent or caregiver if your baby continues to cry after

you have done all you can to calm him/her.

■ You can try to calm your crying baby by:

♦ Rubbing his/her back ♦ Gently rocking

♦ Offering a pacifier♦ Singing or talking

♦ Taking a walk using a stroller or a drive with the baby in a properly-secured car seat.

■ If you have tried various ways to calm your baby and he/she won’t stop crying, do the

following:

♦ Check for signs of illness or discomfort like diaper rash, teething, or tight clothing

♦ Call the doctor if you suspect your child is injured or ill

♦ Assess whether he/she is hungry or needs to be burped

■ If you find yourself pushed to the limit by a crying baby, you may need to focus on

calming yourself. Put your baby in a crib on his/her back, make sure he/she is safe,

and then walk away for a bit and call a friend, relative, neighbor, or parent helpline

for support. Check on him/her every 5 to 10 minutes.

■ Understand that you may not be able to calm your baby and that it is not your fault,

nor your baby’s. It is normal for healthy babies to cry much more in the first 4

months of life.

Sometimes people shake babies when they won’t stop crying.

Please... Never Shake A Baby!

This information compiled from:

PA Act 176 of 2002, The Pennsylvania Shaken Baby Syndrome Education Program, the Brain Injury Association of America, the New York Department of Health, and The Arc.

SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

is the unexpected, sudden death of a child under age 1 in which an autopsy does not show an explainable cause of death.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

SIDS rates have dropped dramatically since 1992, when parents were first told to put babies to sleep on their backs or sides to reduce the likelihood of SIDS. Unfortunately, SIDS remains a significant cause of death in infants under one year old. Thousands of babies die of SIDS in the United States each year.

The cause of SIDS is unknown, although there are several theories. Many doctors and researchers now believe that SIDS is not a single condition and may be caused by several different factors.

These factors may include problems with sleep arousal or an inability to sense a build-up of carbon dioxide in the blood. Almost all SIDS deaths occur without any warning or symptoms when the infant is thought to be sleeping.

SIDS is most likely to occur between 2 and 4 months of age, and 90% occur by 6 months of age. It occurs more often in winter months, with the peak in January. There is also a greater rate of SIDS among Native and African Americans.

The following have been linked to an increased risk of SIDS:

  • Babies who sleep on their stomachs
  • Babies who are around cigarette smoke while in the womb or after being born
  • Overheating from excessive sleepwear and bedding
  • Babies who sleep in the same bed as their parents
  • Babies who have soft bedding in the crib
  • Multiple birth babies (being a twin, triplet, etc.)
  • Premature or low birth weight babies
  • Babies who have a brother or sister who had SIDS
  • Mothers who smoke or use illegal drugs
  • Mothers younger than 20
  • Short time period between pregnancies
  • Late or no prenatal care
  • Situations of poverty

SIDS affects boys more often than girls. While studies show that babies with the above risk factors are more likely to be affected, the impact or importance of each factor is not well-defined or understood.

Signs and tests:

Autopsy results are not able to confirm a cause of death, but may help add to the existing knowledge about SIDS. Autopsies may be required by state law in the event of unexplainable death.

Support Groups:

Parents who have lost a child to SIDS are in tremendous need of emotional support. Because no cause is found for the infant's death, many parents suffer from guilt feelings.

A member of a local chapter of the National Foundation for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome may assist with counseling and reassurance to parents and family members.

Prevention:

  • Always put a baby to sleep on its back. (This includes naps.)
  • DO NOT put a baby to sleep on its stomach. Side sleeping is unstable and should also be avoided. Allowing the baby to roll around on its tummy while awake can prevent a flat spot (due to sleeping in one position) from forming on the back of the head.
  • Only put babies to sleep in a crib. NEVER allow the baby to sleep in bed with other children or adults, and do NOT put them to sleep on surfaces other than cribs, like a sofa.
  • Let babies sleep in the same room (NOT the same bed) as parents. If possible, babies cribs should be placed in the parents' bedroom to allow for night-time feeding.
  • Avoid soft bedding materials. Babies should be placed on a firm, tight-fitting crib mattress with no comforter. Use a light sheet to cover the baby. Do not use pillows, comforters, or quilts.
  • Make sure the room temperature is not too hot. The room temperature should be comfortable for a lightly-clothed adult. A baby should not be hot to the touch.
  • Offer the baby a pacifier when going to sleep. Pacifiers at naptime and bedtime can reduce the risk of SIDS. Doctors think that a pacifier might allow the airway to open more, or prevent the baby from falling into a deep sleep. A baby that wakes up more easily may automatically move out of a dangerous position. If the baby is breastfeeding, it is best to wait until 1 month before offering a pacifier, so that it doesn’t interfere with breastfeeding. Do not force a baby to use a pacifier.
  • Do not use breathing monitors or products marketed as ways to reduce SIDS. In the past, home apnea (breathing) monitors were recommended for families with a history of the condition. But research found that they had no effect, and the use of home monitors has largely stopped.
  • Keep your baby in a smoke-free environment.
  • Breastfeed your baby, if possible -- breastfeeding reduces some upper respiratory infections that may influence the development of SIDS.
  • NEVER give honey to a child less than 1 year old -- honey in very young children may cause infant botulism, which may be associated with SIDS.

Until the nature of the disease is fully understood, complete prevention will not be a reality.

References: 1. AmericanAcademy of Pediatrics' (AAP) Guidelines & the NationalSIDSResourceCenter

2. 3. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development