Birth-certificate insert offers prevention tips
As part of an ongoing effort to reduce preventable infant deaths, birth certificates in Franklin County now will be accompanied by information about safe sleep and how to space out pregnancies.
It’s an initiative of Columbus Public Health and the Ohio Better Birth Outcomes collaborative, which are partners in the county’s CelebrateOne effort to prevent the deaths of babies who never reach their first birthday.
Starting this week, new parents will get a birth certificate and an educational card that explains safe-sleep practices and recommends that pregnancies be spaced at least two years apart. The collaborative expects to reach more than 20,000 families each year.
In Franklin County, about 150 infants die each each year, according to Columbus Public Health, which is higher than the national average.
Four babies died in March alone in Franklin County due to unsafe sleep practices, Columbus Public Health said.
“That would be high for the month,” said Shannon Yang, family health administrator at Columbus Public Health. “On average, we lose about one baby every other week in Franklin County due to unsafe sleep. It’s the equivalent of a kindergarten class per year.”
Advocates are aware that Ohio’s infant mortality rate is among the worst in the nation. And they know that some of the deaths are related to safe sleep and prematurity, which can be caused by having babies too close together, said Dr. Ngozi Osuagwu clinical director of the Women’s Health Center at OhioHealth Doctors Hospital.
OhioHealth is a member of Ohio Better Birth Outcomes.
“Every child should be able to live until their first birthday,” Osuagwu said. “We’re doing everything we can to get the information out, at least where we can make a difference.”
Studies show that allowing 18 months between a birth and a conception decreases the risk of premature birth and low birth weight, Osuagwu said. She said the informational card recommends two years because it provides an easier time frame for families.
The card advises people that every baby should sleep alone, on his or her back and in an empty crib with a firm mattress and a fitted sheet.
It also says that waiting two years between pregnancies gives the body time to heal, reduces the risk of pregnancy complications and reduces the chance that the next baby will be born premature or with birth defects.
New parents already receive information about safe sleep and pregnancy spacing at hospitals and through other outlets, advocates say. The birthcertificate inserts are a way of reaching them again once they’re home.
“It’s just another means of getting the message across,” Yang said.
For details on birth control and other information, visit www.CelebrateOne.info. If you are in need of a crib, call 614-645-3111.