FIRST CANDLE CHARITY GALA 10/22/2014

I attended a charity fundraiser event last night via an invitation of a friend who works for the organization, First Candle.  I was nervous and excited about the event since it was my first "New York City Gala", what I experience at the event was absolutely amazing and healing.  Hearing stories from parents who have lost their child to SIDS/SUID or experienced stillbirth was heartbreaking.  It was extremely moving to seeing an organization work so hard with hospitals, researchers, independent companies, and other supporting organizations to spread awareness and education to people about prevention and child safety.  On top of it all, I was able to talk with a grief counselor that has been with the organization for 13 years about her own experience with SIDS.  The support provided by First Candle for grief counseling is available nationwide through a 24/7 hotline for parents.  Below is information about First Candle and fact sheets about SIDS/SUID and Stillbirths (information provided via First Candle).  

ABOUT FIRST CANDLE
First Candle is a leading national nonprofit organization dedicated to safe pregnancies and the survival of babies through the first years of life. Current priorities are to eliminate Stillbirth, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and other Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths (SUID) with programs of research, education and advocacy. [First Candle] also provide compassionate grief support to all those affected by the death of a baby through a dedicated crisis hotline at 800.221.7437.

ABOUT THE GALA
Can you imagine a world where a new mom or dad doesn’t have to fear the unexpected death of their little one? Can you imagine a world where every parent and caregiver knows the best practices that doctors and researchers recommend for pregnant moms and babies under 1 year? At First Candle, that is the world we strive for.
From military bases to inner-city daycares, First Candle creates campaigns that target groups with the greatest SIDS and stillbirth risk factors. These campaigns rely on our corporate partners and together we keep one central goal in mind: educating families with the latest research for safe pregnancies and healthy babies.
We are profoundly appreciative of all of our corporate partners and loyal donors who are passionate about making sure that every baby can celebrate his or her first birthday.

FIRST CANDLE WEBSITE

FIRST CANDLE SIDS/SUID FACT SHEET:

• SIDS is the sudden, unexpected death of an apparently healthy baby under one year of age that remains unexplained after the performance of a complete postmortem investigation, including an autopsy, examination of the scene of death and review of the medical history.
• As a result of the national Back to Sleep campaign launched in 1994 as a joint effort between First Candle, the American Academy of Pediatrics and National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, SIDS rates have declined by more than 50 percent.
• Despite this success, SIDS is still the leading cause of death for babies one month to one year of age, claiming more than 2,200 lives each year.
• While SIDS occurs in all socio-economic, racial and ethnic groups, African American and Native American babies are 2-3 times more likely to die of SIDS than Caucasian babies.
• Most SIDS deaths occur when a baby is between 2 and 4 months old; 90 percent of all SIDS deaths occur before 6 months of age.
• Most babies that die of SIDS appear to be healthy prior to death.
• 60 percent of SIDS victims are male; 40 percent are female.
• Despite awareness campaigns promoting the back sleep position and other safe sleep practices, there continues to be more than 4,500 SUID every year. Experts feel that as many as 80 – 90 percent of these deaths are the result of unsafe sleep practices such as bed sharing, use of soft bedding and stomach sleep position.
• Other causes of SUID include: inherited metabolic disorders, genetic cardiac disorders, infection, and intentional suffocation.

At this time there is no known way to prevent all sudden infant deaths, but there are lifesaving steps parents and caregivers can take to help protect their baby from SIDS and SUID, including suffocation and other sleep-related deaths.

• Babies should always be placed to sleep on their backs. Side and tummy sleep positions are not safe.
• Do not fall asleep with a baby in an adult bed or on a sofa. Bring them in bed to breastfeed and bond, but when it’s time to fall asleep, place them alongside your bed in a separate, safe sleep space.
• Do not smoke while you are pregnant and do not expose babies to second-hand smoke after they are born. New research also warns of the dangers of third-hand smoke, the chemicals left behind on clothing, in homes and in cars.
• For sleep, use a safety-approved crib with a firm mattress that fits snugly and is covered with only a tight-fitting crib sheet. Portable cribs and play yard style cribs are also a good choice. Place your baby’s separate, safe sleep space alongside where you sleep for at least the first six months.
• Do not place babies to sleep on soft surfaces such as adult beds, waterbeds, sofas, chairs, quilts, and sheepskins.
• Do not use loose blankets in a baby’s crib.  Layer clothing or use a wearable blanket or other sleeper clothing to keep baby warm AND safe during sleep.
• Remove all soft bedding and other soft items from the sleep area, including pillows, blankets, quilts, bumper pads and stuffed animals and toys, before placing the baby to sleep.
• Take care not to overheat babies with too much clothing or too warm of room. Keep temperature at what would be comfortable for a lightly clothed adult.
• Use a pacifier at naptime and nighttime for the first year.
• Educate everyone you know who cares for babies about these important safety tips!

FIRST CANDLE STILLBIRTH FACT SHEET:
Stillbirth is the death of an unborn baby that has been in the mother’s womb for more than 20 weeks. More than 25,000 babies are stillborn in the United States each year.

• Almost 50 percent of these deaths occur at or near full term and often seem to be otherwise healthy babies. The majority of stillbirths (85%) occur before delivery with 15% occurring during labor and delivery.
• It is estimated that nearly two-thirds of all stillbirth deaths remain unexplained. Researchers feel that this is more likely due to a failure to investigate the deaths, rather than a medical mystery.
• Stillbirth deaths cut across all socio-economic classes, races, religions and maternal age groups. No woman is immune.
• Some of the more common diagnosable causes for stillbirth are: placental abruption and other placental problems, cord accidents, birth defects and chromosomal abnormalities, uncontrolled diabetes or high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia and infections.
• The risk factors for stillbirth include: advanced maternal age, prior stillbirth, obesity, smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure and previous fetal or neonatal death.
• After a stillbirth, few hospitals offer an autopsy, placental exam or clinical testing to the parents to determine the cause of death. Ensuring that these procedures are performed on every stillborn baby is critical if we are to develop preventive strategies for future babies.
• Mothers who suffer a stillbirth do not receive recognition in 25 out of 50 states. There is no certificate of birth – making these births “invisible.”

While studies into potential prevention strategies for stillbirth are ongoing, following are some helpful strategies for pregnant women to follow to help reduce the risk of stillbirth:

• Perform a kick count every day beginning with week 28, earlier for high-risk pregnancies. To learn how, visit www.firstcandle.org/kickscount.
• Do not smoke, drink alcohol or use drugs (unless prescribed by your doctor.)
• Report any vaginal bleeding, leakage or sharp pain.
• If you are post-term, discuss options with your doctor. Pregnancies longer than 42 weeks may be at increased risk for stillbirth.
• Do not hesitate to request a second or third opinion anytime during your pregnancy if needed to put your mind at ease.

This is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace your doctor’s advice.