SHELBY COUNTY, Tenn. — Your health choices can determine whether your baby lives or dies.
September is Infant Mortality Awareness Month, and the rate is up in Shelby County.
It is especially discouraging news because the death rate had been declining for the last three years.
In Shelby County, African-American babies die at three times the rate as Caucasian infants.
Dr. Jeffrey Mullins with MidSouth Family Medicine said that is not due to genetics.
“In this area of the country it may be African Americans. In Appalachia it may be Caucasians. It has more to do with socioeconomic status and access to medical care.”
The infant mortality rate reported for 2014 in Shelby County is 9.6 per every 1,000 live births. That is up from 9.2 in 2013.
Mullins said mothers need good prenatal care to ensure a healthy birth.
“If you’re baking a cake or making a dish, it’s all about the preparation.”
Preparation including folic acid and regular doctor visits is important.
Postnatal care is just as critical.
Mother Teceria Flemmons came to the Shelby County Health Department today to get a check up for her 1-year-old son.
While she was expecting, she took care of herself.
“I was going to all of my appointments, taking my medicine they were giving me, prenatal pills and iron pills,” Flemmons said.
To reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, Mullins said, “We still don’t really understand everything we need to about SIDS, but the one thing we do understand is we see it less if a healthy baby is put down down for sleep on their back, rather than their stomach.”
When laying down a baby to sleep, it is also important to not have any loose items in the crib, such as blankets and toys. It is also helpful for a newborn’s crib to be near the parents during the night.
Mullins said parents should also learn infant CPR. Classes are available at the Shelby County Health Department.