Sarah Barton

Every year in the U.S., about 3,400 babies die unexpectedly in their sleep or in the area where they sleep. SUID, formerly SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), is the leading cause of death among babies between 1 month to 1 year of age, and mostly occurs when babies are between 1 and 4 months of age. Fortunately, Vermont has one of the lowest rates of SUID in the country. Still, 13 babies died from SUID between 2015-19 according to the CDC Vital Statistics, and even one death from SUID is too many.

It’s August — National Breastfeeding Month — so let’s talk about some myths and benefits of lactation. “Breastfeeding” is one way to refer to lactation, though some prefer “nursing,” or “chestfeeding.” For simplicity’s sake, we’ll use “breastfeeding.” The process of producing milk for breastfeeding is a miraculous process. The body produces milk with the specific calories, vitamins and nutrients the infant needs.

As a certified nurse midwife, I have been privileged to care for many patients from early adolescents through menopause, including their pregnancies, childbirth and postpartum journeys. In my line of work, the patient’s health is a crucial aspect that needs to be addressed with utmost care and attention.