[Observation of newborn, Contribution to the "sudden infant death syndrome" (SIDS) (author's transl)].

The occurrence of sudden child death in the Gynaecological Department of the Free University has led to the development of special monitors, on which all the children can be observed while their mothers are in the maternity ward. Our findings show that apnoeic intervals occur among newborn children more frequently than is generally assumed. Whether, and to what extent attacks of apnoe can lead to sudden child death can not be determined from our own statistics. In the literature, which is cited individually, a direct correlation is described by very many authors. Almost all of them agree that through continuous monitoring of breathing it is often possible to register risk situations for newborns before a real disease becomes manifest. Our experience justifies the demand that every child's respiration be monitored, especially in clinics which handle a large number of risk pregnancies and births.