Co-sleeping Caused This Mom To Accidentally Kill Her Newborn. Here's How You Can Prevent It.

Jacob Thompson was a miracle baby for both Graham and Monica Thompson. The couple struggled for 12 years before they were able to have Jacob, their little bundle of joy. Sadly, his life was cut short after Monica accidentally killed little Jacob, through no fault of her own.

She was given multiple painkillers and sleeping medications

When Jacob was only 4 days old, a nurse took him to Monica so that she could breastfeed him. Being under multiple painkillers and sleeping medications after having a C-section, Monica wasn't completely aware of what was happening at the time.

She said that she was a little "drowsy and groggy" but she felt something was wrong when little Jacob wasn't moving at all. She tried everything to get him to respond, but nothing worked.

That's when she tried calling out for help, but no one was responding so she had to walk to the hallway before she found someone who could help her baby.

Jacob was taken to the NICU or the newborn intensive care unit of another hospital, where he was placed on life support. But after 6 days, little Jacob passed away.

Monica and her husband Graham will be suing the hospital for $8.6 million since the hospital neglected the fact that Monica was under heavy medication and was thus unaware of what was happening when the nurse took Jacob to Monica for breastfeeding.

Make sure to c0-sleep safely

In the US alone, over 3,500 babies die each year due to 'unsafe sleep environments.' These unsafe sleep environments include co-sleeping, which can cause situations wherein the parent can roll over on top of their child, or the babies can get trapped in bed sheets.

The American Academy of Pediatrics share that sharing a room, or skin-to-skin contact can promote better breastfeeding practices as well as bonding with the child. However, it is important for parents to be careful during bonding time, most especially when it comes to sleeping.

The important thing for parents to remember would be to ensure that their babies have a safe sleeping environment.

For newborns and very young babies, it's always best to put them to sleep in their own crib, without any pillows or any blankets that might cause them to suffocate. As your child grows older, co-sleeping can also be a viable option, but it's important for parents to not co-sleep during your baby's first 6 months.

Smoking, drugs, and alcohol also pose risks to children, as it increases the risk of SIDS by at least 5 times.

If parents are planning on bed-sharing, it's important to make sure that you and your child sleep on a large, firm mattress without any cracks or crevices that might cause suffocation.

At the end of the day, it's still a parent's decision on whether or not they choose to co-sleep or share a room with their child. The most important thing is to create a safe sleep environment in order to prevent any harm from happening to your little one.

Source: familyshare.com, pediatrics.aappublications.org

*Republished with permission from The Asianparent Philippines