SIDS Breakthrough? A new study out of Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle finds that 31 infants who died of SIDS had the same distinctive anomaly on their newborn hearing tests of the right inner ear, which was not shared by healthy infants in the control group. The SIDS infants scored four point lower in their standard newborn hearing tests, across three different sound frequencies in the right ear. (Infants in general tend to test stronger in their right ears than in their left, so this was a reversal of what is usually found in healthy infants.) “This discovery opens a whole new line of inquiry into SIDS research,” said [Dr. Daniel D.] Rubens. “For the first time, it’s now possible that with a simple, standard hearing test babies could be identified as at risk for SIDS, allowing preventative measures to be implemented in advance of a tragic event.”

Baby for former “Bachelorette”: Reality show darling Trista Sutter and hubby Ryan welcomed a baby boy, Maxwell Alston. Weighing in at 5 lbs, 4 oz, little Maxwell was induced four weeks early due to pregnancy complications. Ms. Sutter experienced pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes with the pregnancy. Labor stalled, and the baby arrived via C-section. Mom and baby are reportedly doing well.