SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME

Sudden infant death syndrome. The unexpected and unexplained death of a baby between the ages of one month and one year, even after a thorough examination, is referred to as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). An autopsy, a review of the baby’s medical history, and an examination of the death scene are all part of this investigation. The death will be classified as SIDS if the coroner or medical examiner is unable to determine the cause of death and the infant was under one year old.

SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME

The acronym SIDS represents sudden infant death syndrome. SIDS is the unexpected, inexplicable death of a baby between the ages of one month and one year that, even after a thorough investigation, has no known cause. Although the precise cause of SIDS is unknown, there are recognized risk factors and strategies to lower your baby’s risk of passing away.

Signs

The cause of sudden infant death syndrome is unknown because it is by definition an inexplicable death. To gain a better understanding of how SIDS happens, experts have examined some possible causes. Babies that die of SIDS are thought to have an underlying vulnerability, such as a brain defect or a hereditary predisposition, according to the most widely accepted view. Then, during the early stages of brain or immune system development, they are exposed to a trigger, which results in rapid death. This tendency and risk factors for SIDS include:
Smoking exposure during or following pregnancy
No or late prenatal care
An unhealthful sleeping position or setting
Adolescent pregnancy
Low birth weight or premature delivery
Pregnancy-related overheating, alcohol exposure, and male sex

Prevention

If any of the risk factors listed above apply to you or your child, don’t share a bed.
Make sure your infant sleeps in your room with you for at least six months, but on a different sleeping surface. A sidecar that is fixed to the bed or a bassinet to facilitate nursing are two examples. If you are not nursing, you can use a portable or permanent crib. Your infant can have a 50% lower risk of SIDS if they share your bedroom.
To prevent your infant from falling between the crib’s side and the mattress, use a brand-new, baby-friendly crib. Ensure that the head of your infant cannot become stuck or entangled between the crib’s bars.

Your baby’s sleeping space should be cleared of all loose bedding. All blankets, pillows, toys, plush animals, and crib bumpers fall under this category. These objects have the potential to strangle your infant or cause them to suffocate or choke and cease breathing. Your baby’s mattress should only have a fitted sheet on it.
For naps and bedtime, place your infant on their back rather than their side or stomach. Your baby’s skull weighs a lot, and their muscles are still developing. Your infant cannot breathe if they are lying on their stomach because they are unable to move their head.

Summary

You can get assistance from your healthcare physician in locating services to help you deal with the grief process. Joining a support group for parents or caregivers of infants who have died of SIDS may be beneficial to you. Alternatively, you might choose to speak with a counselor one-on-one. Give yourself time to recover while you deal with this unfathomable loss, in any case.

POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION

Postpartum depression. The experience of having a baby changes your life. Although it can be overwhelming and exhausting, being a parent is an exhilarating experience. Feelings of anxiety or uncertainty are common, particularly if this is your first time. However, you might develop postpartum depression if you have strong mood fluctuations, frequent sobbing fits, and intense feelings of grief or loneliness.

POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION

One kind of depression that develops after giving birth is called postpartum depression (PPD). The birth mother is not the only person affected by postpartum depression. Adoptive parents and surrogates may also be impacted. After giving birth, hormonal, physical, emotional, economical, and social changes are frequent. It symptoms may result from these changes.

Signs

You may feel bad about your symptoms or think you’re a bad mother for experiencing them. The prevalence of it is very high. This feeling is not unique to you, and it does not imply that you are a bad person.
If you suffer from any of the following symptoms, you might have postpartum depression:
Sadness, worthlessness, hopelessness, or remorse
Feeling tense or worrying excessively
Loss of enthusiasm for past interests or pastimes
alterations in appetite or abstinence from food
Decrease in motivation and vitality
Having trouble falling asleep or wanting to sleep constantly
Crying excessively or without cause
Having trouble concentrating or thinking

Causes

The relationship between the sharp decline in hormones during childbirth and depression requires further investigation. During pregnancy, the levels of progesterone and estrogen increase tenfold, but they drastically decrease after birth. Three days after giving birth, these hormone levels return to their pre-pregnancy levels.
Postpartum depression is more likely to occur as a result of these biological changes as well as the social and psychological adjustments brought on by childbirth. Some of these changes include physical changes, sleep deprivation, parenting concerns, or relational problems.

Treatment

Treatment for postpartum depression varies based on the kind and intensity of symptoms. Psychotherapy (talk therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy), antidepressant or anxiety medications, and support group involvement are available forms of treatment.
Depression, anxiety, and psychosis medications may be used to treat postpartum psychosis. Additionally, you might spend a few days in a treatment facility until you stabilize. If this treatment doesn’t work for you, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may work.
Do not assume that you cannot take medication for psychosis, sadness, or anxiety if you are nursing. Learn about your options from your healthcare provider.

Prevention

Limit guests when you initially get home and have reasonable expectations for both you and your child.
Seek assistance and let people know how they may support you.
Rest or sleep when your infant is asleep.
Take a walk, work out, and take a vacation from the house.
Stay in contact with your loved ones. Avoid isolating yourself.
Make time for each other and cultivate your relationship with your partner. You should anticipate both happy and bad days.

Summary

It symptoms include mood fluctuations, excessive sobbing, a loss of interest in once-enjoyed activities, and a sense of sadness or worthlessness. Consult your doctor if you believe you may develop postpartum depression. They are able to determine the best way to treat your issues. It can be beneficial to get counseling, take medicine, or join a support group.

TYPES OF HYDROCEPHALUS

Types of hydrocephalus. An excessive accumulation of fluid in the brain is known as hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is derived from the Greek terms “cephalus,” which means head, and “hydro,” which means water. Previously, hydrocephalus was referred to as “water on the brain.” The clear, colorless fluid that surrounds your brain and spinal cord is called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and it is truly the “water.”

TYPES OF HYDROCEPHALUS

Your brain’s ventricles are the normal passageways for CSF. CSF acts as your brain’s system for removing waste and delivering nutrients. Your brain and spinal cord are surrounded by CSF, which shields and cushions them from harm. Following that, CSF is reabsorbed into your circulation. Developmental delays, migraines, hazy eyesight, and altered gait are some of the symptoms, as is a larger head, particularly in infants.

Types

When the CSF flow is interrupted after it exits your ventricles, communicating hydrocephalus happens. The swelling of the arachnoid membranes at the base of your brain may cause this kind of hydrocephalus. The CSF cannot flow freely because of this obstruction. The reason this kind of hydrocephalus is called communicative is that your ventricles are still open and the CSF can still move between them. Hydrocephalus that does not communicate is often referred to as obstructive hydrocephalus. Blockages in one or more of the small channels that connect your ventricles can result in non-communicating hydrocephalus. When your ventricles swell due to CSF buildup, but there is little to no rise in pressure, you have normal pressure hydrocephalus. The distinction between NPH and other forms of hydrocephalus is that, despite the presence of an abnormally high volume of CSF, the pressure within your ventricles stays constant. Symptoms appear gradually when the CSF in your ventricles builds up. The elderly are most commonly affected by NPH. Damage to the brain from a head injury or stroke causes hydrocephalus ex-vacuo. Your ventricles’ surrounding brain tissue shrinks in these situations. To fill in the additional space, CSF accumulates in your ventricles. Despite the enlargement of your ventricles, your head pressure often stays normal.

Causes

Numerous factors can lead to the development of hydrocephalus. Both congenital and acquired hydrocephalus are possible.
During fetal development, congenital hydrocephalus is caused by a confluence of environmental and genetic variables. Being “congenital” means existing from birth. Congenital hydrocephalus most frequently results from:
Defects of the brain and spinal cord (neural tube), include spina bifida.
A condition known as aqueductal stenosis occurs when the thin passageway between your brain’s third and fourth ventricles narrows.
complications from early birth, include internal bleeding in the ventricles.
infections that might inflame the fetal brain tissue during pregnancy, such rubella.

People of all ages can develop acquired hydrocephalus at any time after birth. Acquired hydrocephalus is most frequently caused by:
brain injury.
Stroke.

Treatment

Shunt. A shunt is a medical device that is surgically implanted as the most common treatment for hydrocephalus. A flexible tube called a shunt is inserted into your brain. The extra CSF is drained and sent to a different part of your body for absorption.
Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV): This procedure involves creating a tiny hole in your third ventricle’s floor. This makes room for the regular flow of CSF into and out of your brain. Usually, children older than two get this treatment.

Summary

A loved one’s hydrocephalus diagnosis can be frightening. It’s crucial to keep in mind that you’re not alone, though. You can receive the resources and tools you require to provide for your family from your healthcare physician. A regular, happy existence is something your loved one can achieve by being aware and making the right plans.