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How could I explain to my non-LDS doctor that Laila was not sleeping? She was unhappy and in pain (she had reflux). When considering how to help her I prayed for guidance and received an answer. The answer was to place my baby on her belly. I knew the risks and I hesitated, ignoring the answer for a few days until again, the answer came, “Put her on her belly.” I placed her on her belly and suddenly sleep came. Laila was happy and rested and I knew it was an answer to my prayer.

Then Laila died.

How could I explain to everyone that I prayed and received an answer that led to the death of my baby? Surely it couldn’t have been an answer from God. But I’ve never doubted it was.

liz3564 wrote:SIDS is random. This woman did NOT kill her baby. My daughter slept on her belly ALL THE TIME as an infant. She is 23 years old, and will be graduating from college next year.

Buffalo wrote:

liz3564 wrote:SIDS is random. This woman did NOT kill her baby. My daughter slept on her belly ALL THE TIME as an infant. She is 23 years old, and will be graduating from college next year.

She probably did. The baby died right after she laid her on her belly. Lots of babies are okay sleeping on their bellies, but some aren't. But now she thinks the baby's death was all God's plan, and feels better about it.

I slept on my belly all the time too, when I was a baby. But now doctors advise against it.

liz3564 wrote:
Yes, but doctors change their minds all the time. When my daughter was an infant, doctors were advising against babies lying on their backs because they could choke.

Stomach Sleeping

Foremost among these risk factors is stomach sleeping. Numerous studies have found a higher incidence of SIDS among babies placed on their stomachs to sleep than among those sleeping on their backs or sides. Some researchers have hypothesized that stomach sleeping puts pressure on a child's jaw, therefore narrowing the airway and hampering breathing.

Another theory is that stomach sleeping can increase an infant's risk of "rebreathing" his or her own exhaled air, particularly if the infant is sleeping on a soft mattress or with bedding, stuffed toys, or a pillow near the face. In that scenario, the soft surface could create a small enclosure around the baby's mouth and trap exhaled air. As the baby breathes exhaled air, the oxygen level in the body drops and carbon dioxide accumulates. Eventually, this lack of oxygen could contribute to SIDS.

Also, infants who succumb to SIDS may have an abnormality in the arcuate nucleus, a part of the brain that may help control breathing and awakening during sleep. If a baby is breathing stale air and not getting enough oxygen, the brain usually triggers the baby to wake up and cry. That movement changes the breathing and heart rate, making up for the lack of oxygen. But a problem with the arcuate nucleus could deprive the baby of this involuntary reaction and put him or her at greater risk for SIDS.

The striking evidence that stomach sleeping might contribute to the incidence of SIDS led the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to recommend in its 1992 Back to Sleep campaign that all healthy infants younger than 1 year of age be put to sleep on their backs (also known as the supine position).

Since the AAP's recommendation, the rate of SIDS has dropped by more than 50%. Still, SIDS remains the leading cause of death in young infants, so it's important to keep reminding parents about the necessity of back sleeping.

Many parents fear that babies put to sleep on their backs could choke on spit-up or vomit. According to the AAP, however, there is no increased risk of choking for healthy infants who sleep on their backs. (For infants with chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease [GERD] or certain upper airway malformations, sleeping on the stomach may be the better option. The AAP urges parents to consult with their child's doctor in these cases to determine the best sleeping position for the baby.)

liz3564 wrote:SIDS is random. This woman did NOT kill her baby. My daughter slept on her belly ALL THE TIME as an infant. She is 23 years old, and will be graduating from college next year.

Runtu wrote:

liz3564 wrote:SIDS is random. This woman did NOT kill her baby. My daughter slept on her belly ALL THE TIME as an infant. She is 23 years old, and will be graduating from college next year.

It's well-known that babies sleeping on their bellies are at a greater risk of SIDS. Whether or not she "killed" her baby, she did put her in a riskier position, as she acknowledges. I've been around long enough to see the changes in recommendations (my kids have dutifully slept on bellies, backs, and sides), but there is conclusive data about babies sleeping face down and SIDS.

What a tragedy. I understand the point here, but I am not sure I'm comfortable using a tragic death to criticize religious belief.

Buffalo wrote:http://www.mormonmommyblogs.com/2012/02/freedom-from-guilt.html

How could I explain to my non-LDS doctor that Laila was not sleeping? She was unhappy and in pain (she had reflux). When considering how to help her I prayed for guidance and received an answer. The answer was to place my baby on her belly. I knew the risks and I hesitated, ignoring the answer for a few days until again, the answer came, “Put her on her belly.” I placed her on her belly and suddenly sleep came. Laila was happy and rested and I knew it was an answer to my prayer.

Then Laila died.

How could I explain to everyone that I prayed and received an answer that led to the death of my baby? Surely it couldn’t have been an answer from God. But I’ve never doubted it was.

As a parent, I really feel for this woman. She was doing as she had been taught by the LDS church - praying for guidance in every aspect of her life, and following the "still small voice." This time it killed her daughter.

I can't say this enough. The spirit isn't reliable. The spirit is not to be trusted. The spirit is just you channeling your gut-level reactions. Don't let it override your common sense, despite what church leaders may teach you. Superstitious Mormon dogma killed this infant.

This could have been me, back when I was a believer. This could have happened to any believing Mormon. Stay away from the doctrine of "follow the spirit." It's poison.

How could I explain to my non-LDS doctor that Laila was not sleeping?

Dark Helmet wrote:WTH? I read the article, and even in context it doesn't make sense. Why is it easier to confide that information to an LDS doctor as opposed to a non-LDS doctor?