Baby Dies before Aircraft Takes-off

For nursing mothers who often resort to breast feeding as a way to facify their babies during the courses of an air plane journey, this could come as a cautionary news:

The Aircraft was about to take off when the mother noticed that the child which was sucking her breast had turned still. She then cried out for help

Seetha Sibu, hailing from Chalakkudi in Thrissur District, Kerala/India, was on her way to the Gulf from where she had come for delivery a few months back. The Baby, Prithvin, was going to Salalah with her mother, to join his father working in the Gulf, by the Calicut - Salalah Air India Express flight.

When Seetha Sibu observes her baby's condition, she cried out for help. A Doctor, who was travelling by the same flight tried to help but to no avail. The air traffic control of the airport was straight away alerted and the flights take off halted for rushing the baby to hospital. Though the baby was rushed to a hospital it was already dead. The cause believed to be "asphyxiation" while being breast fed, air port sources said.

The change in cabin pressure joined with the breast feeding, had caused the baby to asphyxiate. Following this incident, Doctors in the city opine that the Airlines should now make it compulsory to warn passengers against breast feeding before and during take- off and landing.

The pressure inside the cabin keeps changeable from time to time as it picks up speed and gain altitude. This can become cause for uneasiness in a child. If parents are not aware about the dangers of breast feeding a baby during the take-off, it is essential that the Airline takes the proposal of announcing the same before and during the flight. There are chances of traumatic asphyxia, when the mother holds her infant close to her breast during take-off. This is a big issue and parents should be made aware of it.

Dr. Kamala Selvaraj, a renowned Gynecologist from Chennai says: "Parents should ensure that their child is healthy before boarding a flight. When, even adult complains of health problems while travelling by flight, how can one expect a mere few month old infant, who cannot express its discomfort in words to withstand such pressure? Parents need to be doubly sure before travelling with such young babies. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), where the cause of the death of infant is not known could occur due to asphyxiation. Most of the parents are not aware of it and take it causally. In the recent incident, while the mother was breast feeding the child, a few drops of milk could have entered the child's respiratory system. Adults can cough it, but babies can't do anything and end up chocking."

One cannot blame any one but the parents in this case. Most Airlines are well equipped for emergencies, but such indidents may not be in their control. The Airline companies should take note of this and ensure that the announcement systems incorporate warning regarding breast feeding babies during take-off or landing.