MHP Recognizes the Dangers of Shaken Baby Syndrome
Mahaska Health Partnership
MAHASKA COUNTY – Every year, over 1,400 babies are shaken and abused as a result of caregivers becoming frustrated with an infant’s crying. Shaken infants suffer a variety of serious injuries ranging from seizures and cerebral palsy to death.
Through a unique collaboration of people who knit and crochet, the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome (NCSBS) is working to build awareness of the dangers of shaking an infant. Through the collection and distribution of thousands of purple-colored caps, NCSBS hopes to remind parents to take a break and ask for help before becoming too frustrated and harming their child. During the month of November, MHP will be receiving these purple knitted caps to give to new parents to help raise awareness of the dangers of shaken baby syndrome.
At MHP, the focus is always on the safety of children. “We offer a wide variety of prenatal classes for caregivers to attend before the baby comes, but it’s not always enough to prepare for the months after birth,” MHP Birthing Center Director Chyann Vroegh, RN, said. “Having a newborn can be stressful, it’s important for new parents to have a good support system. These purple caps are a great way to remind caregivers to take a deep breath and ask for help before a situation escalates.”
MHP Pediatrician Dr. John O’Brien, also stressed the dangers of Shaken Baby Syndrome. “Babies can cry a lot. After all, it is their only means of communication,” O’Brien said. “It is important to remember to not take your frustration out on the child, as this can lead to health issues that will follow them throughout their lives.
“Infants lack strong neck muscles, so any sudden, forceful movements can cause brain damage more easily than in an adult,” O’Brien stressed. “Babies are susceptible to severe brain trauma from falls, shakes and other head injuries that older children are not as vulnerable to. Babies are fragile, they should be handled with lots of care and concern for their safety.”
The Birthing Center provides caregivers of each baby born at MHP a DVD and flyer about the dangers of Shaken Baby Syndrome and how to protect their infant from harm. For more information about the dangers of Shaken Baby Syndrome and how to avoid it, contact the MHP Birthing Center at 641.672.3170.
Mahaska Health Partnership, located in Oskaloosa, is a non-profit health system accredited by the Joint Commission. It is guided by its mission to provide exceptional customer service and health improvement, linking the science of medicine with the humanity of compassionate care. For more information about how Mahaska Health Partnership is making healthcare personal, visit www.mahaskahealth.org.
