Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Many Accidental Suffocation Deaths In Infants Entirely Preventable With Better Education Efforts For Families
The Associated Press: Blankets, Bed-Sharing Common In Accidental Baby Suffocations
Accidental suffocation is a leading cause of injury deaths in U.S. infants and common scenarios involve blankets, bed-sharing with parents and other unsafe sleep practices, an analysis of government data found. These deaths "are entirely preventable. That's the most important point," said Dr. Fern Hauck, a co-author and University of Virginia expert in infant deaths. (Tanner, 4/22)
The Washington Post: Postpartum Depression Risk Factors
After Ann’s daughter was born, the infant cried a lot because of acid reflux. “When she wouldn’t stop, I got angry. I felt like a monster,” said Ann, who requested that she be identified only by her middle name because of privacy concerns. At first, the new mother chalked up her irritability and guilty feelings to stress and sleep deprivation, but when the worrisome feelings lingered, Ann knew something was wrong. (Fraga, 4/20)
The New York Times: Commuting While Pregnant: A Long Ride Could Be A Risky One
It’s no secret that the United States lags the rest of the developed world when it comes to policies that support mothers and families. As former President Barack Obama put it in 2014: “Family leave. Child care. Flexibility. These aren’t frills. They’re basic needs. They shouldn’t be bonuses. They should be the bottom line. ”Five years and little progress later, we’re learning more and more about the toll inflexible work cultures have on new and expectant mothers. Last fall, a New York Times investigation exposed the devastating cost of pregnancy discrimination on women in physically demanding jobs. (Salam, 4/19)
