Stress on Child Development

From the list of stressor given, the one that come close for me is violence. In my line of work I hear about this way too often and sometimes see it. The program I work in deals with children who are diagnosed with either reactive attachment disorder, general anxiety disorder, etc. There are children who live in foster care that have dealt with abuse or neglect from their parents or friends of their parents. Many of these children have a hard time accepting affection, engaging with peer; however, on the other hand some can be too affectionate and display indiscriminate affection to strangers, calling them daddy or trying to leave with them. We are trained to allow them to take time to adjust to their new environment and give comfort.

Africa has the youngest population in the world. Today, Sub-Saharan Africa's 130 million children below six years of age (20% of its total population) are seriously at-risk (web.worldbank.org). Families are devastated with the AIDS pandemic, which left 10.6 million orphans as of 1999 (UNAIDS 1999)(web.worldbank.org). Wars and civil conflict within states increased the number of African refugees to 35 million in 1999 (those internally displaced as well as those who fled their countries), 85% of whom are children and women. Infant mortality has declined to 105 per 1,000 live births in 1997, but is still the highest in the world (web.worldbank.org). Of the African children who survive through age six, nearly 30-million (or one-third) are chronically malnourished, weighing only three-fourths of the weight standard for their age, largely due to inappropriate child feeding practices, high morbidity and poor child caring practices (ACC-SCN 1999)(web.worldbank.org). About 35% are stunted following persistent malnutrition before they reach the age of three; a situation that can hardly be reversed (web.worldbank.org).                                                                     Reference Retrieved from http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTCY/EXTECD/ 0,,contentMDK:20426142~hlPK:547714~menuPK:1114015~pagePK:148956~piPK:216618~theSitePK:344939,00.html

Breastfeeding

I have not had the opportunity to have children yet, but I know it is important to breastfeed. Women I knew that have had children complained a lot about breastfeeding. Many said it hurts and or that it takes a while for the child to latch on. I want to know how important breastfeeding is compared to formula.

Breastfeeding in China

• Better breastfeeding rate than US and Europe
• Less support from the hospitals
• Hospitals pressure mothers to formula feed
• High formula rate
• General attitude is pro Breastfeeding
• Formula feeding is only used when needed
• Mothers told to stop breastfeeding by a health professional (Wiens, 2012).

Breastfeeding can lead to some health issues such as anemia (Wiens, 2012). Babies who were breastfeed for the proper amount of time of six to seven months, can have a lower risk of anemia (Wiens, 2012).

Working with such young children I notice/see many problems witgh academia or health. All that could be linked to being breastfeed or formula fed. From the women I knew, those who breastfed their babies did not gain a lot of weight and the women who formula fed their babies gained serious weight and fast.

Reference
Weins, V. (2012). Breastfeeding a baby in China. Retrieved fromhttp://www.havingababyinchina.com/reference/breastfeeding-a-baby-in-china/

First birthing experience

I experiened my first birthing 5 almost 6 years ago. A friend of mine was having her second child and she allowed me to be in the room with her. I had just met her earlier that year, so I was excited she allowed me that experience, but I was also nervous. I had heard some crazy to disgusting stories about the childbirth process. It was so amazing to see how the baby comes out, I was shocked. I have not had any children of my own, so of course I had questions about how it all worked. As she pushed it seemed the baby was just gliding out, as if she wasn't pushing at all. Seeing a birth on television has no comparison to a live birth. That was a beautiful sight to see and the doctor held on to that baby so firm but gently. I believe having a natural birth vs. a cesarean can determine complications upon the baby's arrival. I have two friends who had cesareans and both babies had to be in a incubator for a period of time and my friend who had a natural child birth didn't have any complications. A lot has to do with the health of the mother prior to birth.

In Holland Netherlands, most expectant moms don't see an obstetrician, but are instead referred by their family doctor to a local midwife practice (Schalken, 2012). Doctors only intervene in high-risk cases or if complications arise during delivery (Schalken, 2012). All expectant mothers in Holland are required to pick up a kraampakket that includes all of the medical supplies necessary for a home birth (Schalken, 2012). If you choose not to deliver at home, your midwife will make a house call to check on the progress of your labor and determine the ideal time for you to go to the hospital (Schalken, 2012). Giving birth naturally remains the ideal for the vast majority of Dutch women; if a mother gives birth early in the day without complications, she and the baby may go home in as little as two hours (Schalken, 2012).

I was in a hospital when my friend gave birth, it's not necessary for Dutch women to give birth in a hospital. Most dutch women will have natural child births, like my friend in the story above did.

Reference
Schalken, L. (2012). Parents: Bith customs around the world. Retrieved from http://www.parents.com/pregnancy/giving-birth/vaginal/birth-customs-around-the-world/?page=2