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Home / News

All posts in News

Safe Sleep Week Canada – A Father’s Legacy

March 20, 2024

Safe Sleep Week – March 11th to March 15th, 2024

On average in Canada, 1 in 15 infant deaths occur while the infant is sleeping*.

At Baby’s Breath, we believe that is one baby too many and we are the only national organization focused on SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

Like many SIDS organizations, our story is rooted in loss. Along with that loss comes a deep desire to find answers and to prevent other families from experiencing the same devastating loss of a child.

One Man’s Legacy Becomes a Shared Vision

More than fifty years ago, Baby’s Breath was born as the Canadian Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths. Its original directors included a man named Dr. Sydney Segal – a pediatrician and neonatologist. Dr. Segal was actively involved in the areas of medical ethics, fetal medicine, respiratory pediatrics, children with AIDS and SIDS.

Just a few years after the organization was founded, Dr. Segal lost his own daughter to SIDS and he became even more devoted to the cause. Not only was he one of Baby’s Breath’s founders, he sat on its medical advisory committee and was the driving force in creating the first ever Canadian SIDS conference held in 1974.

Aside from his accolades and accreditations in the medical field, Dr. Segal was incredibly passionate and had a way of making people feel like they were the only one in the room.

After his death in 1997, a note he had written was found amongst his papers:

“One ambition is to leave, for the enrichment of future generations, an indestructible legacy that is clearly tangible, but without the transience of material property.

Example of such legacy would include an artist’s beautiful painting or monument, a composer’s captivating music, a statesman’s contribution to social advancement, or a research scientist’s discovery of a new method for the promotion of health or the conservation of some natural resource.

Paramount in my ambition is for my own legacy to provide such an element.

I would be ever happier if that legacy were to carry a motivating force for some future person to improve its effectiveness.  Subsequently, my identification with the original could disappear.  Anyone who may be aware of the transfer of credit should feel no less satisfied.” 

Dr. Segal’s profound impact on SIDS research and prevention cannot be overstated. We believe his commitment to education and public health initiatives has saved countless lives, empowering parents and healthcare professionals with the knowledge needed to create safer sleep environments for infants. His legacy continues to inspire the work we do today.

Expanding our Impact

In 2015, the Canadian Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths expanded its focus to include stillbirth and miscarriage and Baby’s Breath was officially reborn.

Our goals and objectives have remained the same: saving lives while also supporting families and advocating for critical research in these spaces.

As we launch this year’s “Safe Sleep Week”, we are incredibly excited to be partnering with Owlet. The campaign’s goal is to create awareness, as well as to educate families and caregivers on safe sleep practices, and we are confident that in combining Owlet’s innovation with our educational resources, we can empower parents and caregivers with the tools and knowledge to prioritize safe sleep practices.

It is still our vision to leave behind a world without SIDS and stillbirths, and along the way we will continue to advocate for and encourage research, share information, and provide bereavement support to families.

As Dr. Segal wrote and maintains one of our inspirations:“One ambition is to leave, for the enrichment of future generations, an indestructible legacy that is clearly tangible…”

*Statistic Canada

Baby’s Breath Flag Raising Ceremony

October 6, 2021

On Friday, October 1st, executive director Mary Margaret Murphy was joined outside the St. Catharines City Hall by city councillors Dawn Dodge and Sal Sorrento, and joined virtually by BabyKicks/BébéBouge founder Nadine Belzile, to raise the Baby’s Breath flag in honour of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.

A new campaign was also announced in collaboration with BabyKicks/BébéBouge in order to spread awareness and information about preventing stillbirths. For more information about the stillbirth campaign, visit Babykicks.ca/BébéBouge.ca or download our free brochure here:

BabyKicks – English  |  BébéBouge – Français

International Conference on Stillbirth, SIDS and Baby Survival Recap

July 31, 2018

Dear Baby’s Breath Members, Supporters and Followers,

Last month, I had the great privilege to represent Baby’s Breath and all Canadians at the 2018 Glasgow International Conference on Stillbirth, SIDS and Baby Survival hosted by the International Society for the Study of Prevention of Perinatal and Infant Death. This year, 531 professionals attended the conference, representing 36 countries.

Read This Story

New Book Resource

June 5, 2018

Baby’s Breath is pleased to share a new partnership with the Story of Books. They have a wonderful range of baby and child loss books that can be completely customized to include your child’s name and illustrations to reflect your family.

Read This Story

Prolonged Grief Disorder Study

May 22, 2018

Last month, the results of a study conducted by Dr. Rick Goldstein, Program Director of the Robert’s Program on Sudden Unexpected Death in Pediatrics and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical school were published in the American Academy of Pediatrics’ journal, Pediatrics. This article is titled “The Grief of Mothers After the Sudden Unexpected Death of Their Infants”.

Read This Story

New “SIDS & Reducing the Risks” Brochure

May 10, 2018

Baby’s Breath is excited to share the release of a new brochure titled “SIDS & Reducing the Risk”. This brochure provides information to  parents  on what SIDS is , and the steps parents and caregivers can take to minimize the risk factors their infant is exposed to.

This brochure is available for download here, as well as on our How to Reduce the Risks page. Individuals looking for copies to distribute can contact us at info@babysbreathcanada.ca.

2018 Membership Open

February 7, 2018

Baby’s Breath membership is now open for 2018! Have you been looking at ways to get more involved and stay informed about the happenings of Baby’s Breath? This is your chance to jump in and join our organization.

As a member, you also have the privilege of participating and voting at the Baby’s Breath Annual General Meeting, nominating eligible members to the Board of Directors, and receiving updates on our activities.

Please take a moment to join or renew your annual membership with Baby’s Breath by completing the 2018 Membership Application now.

 

Proposed Group Grief Counselling Support Teleconference Program

December 8, 2017

Baby’s Breath regularly speaks with individuals and families faced with the tragic loss of a child. We are acutely aware of the struggle and isolation many families face. We are excited to share that we are hoping to launch a Group Grief Counselling Teleconference Program.

Read This Story

Baby Boxes

March 27, 2017

Since baby boxes have become increasingly popular in Canada and we have had many inquiries on their safety, Baby’s Breath has released the following statement on these style of boxes.

 

Read This Story

Alberta MP Submits a Private Members Motion Aimed at Helping Grieving Parents

January 30, 2017

On December 8, 2016 Blake Richards, Member of Parliament for Banff-Airdrie, submitted a Private Members’ Motion, aimed at helping parents who have suffered the loss of an infant child, including in the case of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

 

Read This Story

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Recent Posts

  • Safe Sleep Week Canada – A Father’s Legacy
  • Baby’s Breath Flag Raising Ceremony
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  • International Conference on Stillbirth, SIDS and Baby Survival Recap
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