Yesterday I sent an email to address the current issue of co-sleeping being attacked in the media.
I have just received Dr. McKenna's comments on the current study and situation. He made the following comments in email conversation with another breastfeeding advocate. This advocate had contact Dr. McKenna for clarification on the recent Pediatrics article entitled "Where Should Infants Sleep?" which was the basis of the media coverage this week.
Dr. McKenna has given permission to share some comments from personal communications.
(October 6, 2003): Referring to the article mentioned above, DR. MCKENNA said "It does not distinguish between different types of bedsharing death--it collapses any death--regardless of parents being drunk--drugged, etc. etc... or babies sleeping alone--into one--prone sleeping while bedsharing--is not considered.... These statistics do not apply to breastfeeding mothers who sleep with their babies who practice safe bedsharing"
In an additional communication from DR. MCKENNA (October 7, 2003):
"while a relative risk was calculated---from the recent survey published by Marian Willinger at NICHD last year, ---the calculation used by Scheer et al. likely underestimates the numbers of parents, especially middle class whites--who actually bedshare for part of the night..This would raise the number of bedsharers to well over 50-55%.
Moreover, and more seriously, the problem with this study is that it treats bedsharing as a coherent and uniform behavior that can be assigned a fixed-unchanging, universal relative risk, when in fact the odds ration changes over a continuum to [sic] safe and protective--to risky and dangerous depending on whether or not (or if) any number of specific adverse rick factors are associated with the bedsharing. Such factors not distinguished in the infant deaths statistics on which these odd rations are calculated include: was the infant sleeping prone, did mother smoke, was the baby alone, was the mother breast feeding, was the baby overlaid by a sibling, was the mattress soft, was the baby sleeping on a pillow, was the baby found underneath duvet blankets, did the mother smoke during the pregnancy, was the bed made safe (ledges and gaps eliminated), was an adult co-sleeper drunk, desensitized by drugs. Moreover, as many scientists and researchers have continuously pointed out to Scheer and Kemp, (many published this material in pediatrics in 2000) when a baby is found in a bed, coroners often simply assume that the baby was suffocated, but if the baby is found in the crib, it is not suffocation, but the death is labled as SIDS. Moreover, infant deaths in poor communities are more likely to be assumed suffocation than they are in richer communities." End Dr. McKenna.
The correspondent with Dr. McKenna adds:
"Dr. McKenna asked for a favor. If those of us in a position to be a voice for properly researched scientific studies could address the issue of this poorly conducted study on every parenting site, forum, etc. and also write to the CPSC and the Editorial office of the AAP, challenging the "quality and validity of this science." There have already been, and will continue to be, stories through the popular news outlets that will pick up this poorly researched data and trot it out to tell parents they'll be killing their babies if they cosleep!
He suggested that our protests come from our hearts and minds, from our personal feelings as well, and not to throw his name out in every communication. We should respond to all sources, radio, TV, newspaper articles (hey, this might be a great opportunity to be proactive in suggesting a story to local media and helping them find the appropriate data instead of having to fight back against something already released!)."
AGAIN, DR. MCKENNA from a personal communication:
(October 7, 2003): "The important thing is--no one person can reduce the impact of this...everyone in their own way must take a stand.... Each person--i hope, can use their own networks to spur their friends and associates and family members on--to write and communicate...And please--I am unimportant here--What matters is all of you--YOUR opinions.. Speak in your way. It is most powerful!!"
Janice here again:
So, what can you do to get the truth about co-sleeping out? If your local media picked up the story, contact them and suggest a story idea that will show your point of view and life experience. Write a letter to the editor. Print out the safe sleep brochures. Pass on these emails.
Need help in getting the word out? Check out this good site, its a great primer for learning how to work with the media. For example it has guidelines for writing letters to the editor, sending press releases, writing opinion editorials, and a list of email addresses for all major newspapers across Canada.
MEDIA KIT
http://dawn.thot.net/media.html#letters
There is more media information here, and also how to lobby Ottawa (save for other issues!)
The Advocacy Tool Kit
http://dawn.thot.net/advocacy_toolkit.html#12
Sincerely,
Janice Reynolds
Moms For Milk Breastfeeding Network
I have just received Dr. McKenna's comments on the current study and situation. He made the following comments in email conversation with another breastfeeding advocate. This advocate had contact Dr. McKenna for clarification on the recent Pediatrics article entitled "Where Should Infants Sleep?" which was the basis of the media coverage this week.
Dr. McKenna has given permission to share some comments from personal communications.
(October 6, 2003): Referring to the article mentioned above, DR. MCKENNA said "It does not distinguish between different types of bedsharing death--it collapses any death--regardless of parents being drunk--drugged, etc. etc... or babies sleeping alone--into one--prone sleeping while bedsharing--is not considered.... These statistics do not apply to breastfeeding mothers who sleep with their babies who practice safe bedsharing"
In an additional communication from DR. MCKENNA (October 7, 2003):
"while a relative risk was calculated---from the recent survey published by Marian Willinger at NICHD last year, ---the calculation used by Scheer et al. likely underestimates the numbers of parents, especially middle class whites--who actually bedshare for part of the night..This would raise the number of bedsharers to well over 50-55%.
Moreover, and more seriously, the problem with this study is that it treats bedsharing as a coherent and uniform behavior that can be assigned a fixed-unchanging, universal relative risk, when in fact the odds ration changes over a continuum to [sic] safe and protective--to risky and dangerous depending on whether or not (or if) any number of specific adverse rick factors are associated with the bedsharing. Such factors not distinguished in the infant deaths statistics on which these odd rations are calculated include: was the infant sleeping prone, did mother smoke, was the baby alone, was the mother breast feeding, was the baby overlaid by a sibling, was the mattress soft, was the baby sleeping on a pillow, was the baby found underneath duvet blankets, did the mother smoke during the pregnancy, was the bed made safe (ledges and gaps eliminated), was an adult co-sleeper drunk, desensitized by drugs. Moreover, as many scientists and researchers have continuously pointed out to Scheer and Kemp, (many published this material in pediatrics in 2000) when a baby is found in a bed, coroners often simply assume that the baby was suffocated, but if the baby is found in the crib, it is not suffocation, but the death is labled as SIDS. Moreover, infant deaths in poor communities are more likely to be assumed suffocation than they are in richer communities." End Dr. McKenna.
The correspondent with Dr. McKenna adds:
"Dr. McKenna asked for a favor. If those of us in a position to be a voice for properly researched scientific studies could address the issue of this poorly conducted study on every parenting site, forum, etc. and also write to the CPSC and the Editorial office of the AAP, challenging the "quality and validity of this science." There have already been, and will continue to be, stories through the popular news outlets that will pick up this poorly researched data and trot it out to tell parents they'll be killing their babies if they cosleep!
He suggested that our protests come from our hearts and minds, from our personal feelings as well, and not to throw his name out in every communication. We should respond to all sources, radio, TV, newspaper articles (hey, this might be a great opportunity to be proactive in suggesting a story to local media and helping them find the appropriate data instead of having to fight back against something already released!)."
AGAIN, DR. MCKENNA from a personal communication:
(October 7, 2003): "The important thing is--no one person can reduce the impact of this...everyone in their own way must take a stand.... Each person--i hope, can use their own networks to spur their friends and associates and family members on--to write and communicate...And please--I am unimportant here--What matters is all of you--YOUR opinions.. Speak in your way. It is most powerful!!"
Janice here again:
So, what can you do to get the truth about co-sleeping out? If your local media picked up the story, contact them and suggest a story idea that will show your point of view and life experience. Write a letter to the editor. Print out the safe sleep brochures. Pass on these emails.
Need help in getting the word out? Check out this good site, its a great primer for learning how to work with the media. For example it has guidelines for writing letters to the editor, sending press releases, writing opinion editorials, and a list of email addresses for all major newspapers across Canada.
MEDIA KIT
http://dawn.thot.net/media.html#letters
There is more media information here, and also how to lobby Ottawa (save for other issues!)
The Advocacy Tool Kit
http://dawn.thot.net/advocacy_toolkit.html#12
Sincerely,
Janice Reynolds
Moms For Milk Breastfeeding Network
