The CDC recently published a shocking report. According to their study, 91,000 infants per year are abused or neglected during their first year of life and about 33% of those abuse cases occur within the first week of life. Experts everywhere are calling for more focus to be put on this critical time period of mom adjusting to caring for a newborn. Especially if the newborn shows traits of being colicky or fussy. (I just have to point out here that most babies aren’t colicky or really fussy in the hospital.)
While the statistics are shocking there are a few things to keep in mind. Neglect means denying basic care including medical treatment. This would for example, include a mother who was breastfeeding and might not realize her baby wasn’t getting enough until the baby was dehydrated. It would also include infants who were born addicted to drugs, since using drugs while pregnant is considered neglect. Of the cases that were under a week old, 68.5% were categorized as victims of neglect (including deprivation of necessities or medical neglect), and 13.2% suffered physical abuse. Fatalities where not considered in these statistics but were found to occur at an approximate rate of 16.7 fatalities for every 100,000 live births.
Sleep Deprivation & Mental Health
One thing the study didn’t cover is why the abuse occurred. Personally, I find it impossible to contemplate what intervention is necessary without knowing first the circumstances of the abuse. A mother on drugs is not the same as a mother without support. Neither situation is excusable but it certainly dictates the type of support and intervention necessary.
As a result of this study, some experts are calling for more support networks for new mothers. They feel that since an alarming amount of abuse occurs within the first week of birth, that perhaps one of the issues is lack of support for a mother experiencing extreme sleep deprivation.
Everyone who knows me well knows I don’t do well without sleep. When we started having children, my husband simply made it a priority to make sure that I had time to nap. Lack of sleep is what led us into co-sleeping. I have a tremendous support system and I am blessed. But what about moms who simply don’t have it?
The solution is certainly complicated but I do think that we need more community organizations that are willing to handle and help moms on a case by case basis. I am interested in seeing what the CDC comes up with as possible intervention in these situations.
Related Articles:
Six on Sunday: Sleep Deprivation
“Momnesia” Is Not Just in Your Head!
What Else Does Exhaustion Do to You?
How Do I Know if a Child is Being Abused?
Crying Babies and the Possibilities of Abuse
Valorie Delp shares recipes and kitchen tips in the food blog, solves breastfeeding problems, shares parenting tips, and current research in the baby blog, and insight, resources and ideas as a regular guest blogger in the homeschooling blog. To read more articles by Valorie Delp, click here.
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