Shaken Baby Syndrome

How does a human being become so angry at a helpless, tiny baby that in order to get her to stop crying, the baby is picked up and shaken. If the baby does stop crying as a result of the shaking, it is most likely because the child's brain has been damaged. Maybe angry isn't the correct word. Perhaps desperation is a more accurate description. If we were all to be honest, we would have to admit that dealing with a baby that simply will not stop crying is truly a test of the depth of our love and patience. And I believe that the word "desperation" is one that comes to many of our minds as we think of moments when our own precious babies nearly drove us to the edge of sanity by their ceaseless crying.

Unfortunately, when that moment of desperation takes over, too many people resort to shaking their babies in a futile attempt to stop the crying. The following is a news report which talks about shaken baby syndrome. I thought it was worth posting for everyone to read. To watch the video that goes with this news article, click on the title of this post.


WWAY NewsChannel 3
abc
Submitted by WWAY on 5 August 2008 - 5:05pm.

We have been following the case of an 18-year-old Wilmington woman, Meagan Stuhan charged in the death of her four-month-old son.

He died of internal injuries consistent with shaken baby syndrome.


According to New Hanover Regional Medical Center shaken baby syndrome is the most common form of child abuse in children 6-months-old and younger.

Hospital personnel say some parents shake their babies to try and get them to stop crying, but even the smallest shake could be deadly.

Pediatric coordinator, Mary Beth Koehler, has seen frustration over a crying baby turn into abuse. She says many parents do not know that shaking a baby, even a little, can cause bleeding in the brain.

She says to prevent abuse from occurring, New Hanover Regional Medical Center educates all new parents on ways to cope with a crying newborn.

Research showed a program like this was needed.

"Before they started this initiative they called people in the state of North Carolina and asked and it was mostly moms who answered the phone, 'Do you shake your baby as a matter of discipline,' and they said 'yes', by and large a huge amount," said Koehler.

Koehler says if your baby's crying becomes too much, put the baby in a safe place, then try to calm down before your actions cause any harm.

She also recommends calling a friend to help watch the baby for a while.

Do what ever you need to do to de-stress, but most importantly never shake the child, and know that sometimes you are not going to be able to make the baby stop crying.

For more information, please visit dontshake.org.