Consequences of Stress on Children's Development

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Childbirth In Your Life and Around the World

I have two amazing sons!!! My birthing experiences were different with both of my children. Babies are such a blessing from God. I can remember with my older I was at home when my water broke, but I had no idea that was happening to me. My husband and I went to the hospital, the nurse checked me and said your water broke and you are here to stay. I went into labor two weeks early. The pain was sooooooooooooo miserable because I didn't get an epidural until the end of the labor. I got to the hospital around 11:30 on a Monday night and I delivered my baby on a Tuesday at 9:00 am. I was in labor for about 8 hours. Which was good compared to most women being in labor for 12 plus hours. As the doctor  came in to check the baby monitor, he noticed my babies' breathing was going up and down. So, the doctor had to turn me side to side to help my baby breathe the right way. That was a little scary, but I continued to pray that God would take care of us. I guess to keep me from panicking my husband and mother were asked to leave the room. So, I had to deliver all alone. This birthing experience different from my 8 month old. This time I was induced on a Monday. I had to be at the hospital at 5:00 am. I was so excited to drop that load!!! I had no pain. Around 9am the doctor came in to break my water. No pain!!! Around 9:30 I got my epidural. I was feeling great!!!!!!!! Extremely numb, but great!! I had the baby around 7:30 that night. I was so hungry!!! The labor was breeze, but the delievery was different from my oldest son. With my oldest son I only had to push once. With my 8 month old son I was pushing seemed like forever. This time my husband and mother was able to share in the experience!! I remember both times laying on the delivery bed just praising and thanking God for these blessings he gave to me and my husband. God kept me safe with both labor and deliveries.

Birth in Africa
Traditionally, women in Kenya have given birth at home. In this rural culture, birth is a meaning-laden event not only for a woman and her extended family but also for the entire community. Children are viewed as a blessing, a gift from God. A pregnant woman is supported by older women in the community and cared for by traditional birth attendant (TBA). They continue to play a vital role in the African communities. Because of the 40% unemployment and widespread poverty, medical care is often unaffordable or unavailable. This is the reason why many women in Africa turn to TBAs   for assistance or birth at home.  The women of Africa give birth sitting on a hand carved birthing stool, on the knees or crouching. This helps the uterus dilate and make it easier for the baby to emerge. Kenyan fathers/partners are enthuisatic and committed to involvemen in the birth experience. In South Africa epidural are very hard to come by. Doctors recommend cesearan birth because of dangers of vaginal birth. They also recommend induction on at 38 weeks.

In conclusion, birthing children is a blessing from God. God has given mothers that blessing, and that is why mother's should take good care of the blessing that God has given. It is important we give our children the proper nourishment they did to become successful children and adults.


References:
The Journal of Perinatal Education: Birth and Vision: Lamaze Childbirth Education in Kenya, East Africa.  Summer 2004.
www.pregnancy-info.net/birthingmethods.html

www.pregnancy-info.net/birthing

Child Development and Public Health

Nutrition/Malnutrition I chose nutrition as a topic because a good nutrition helps the child develop mentally, physically, and emotionally. It is very vital that a child practices good nutrition so he or she can be healthy.Child malnutrition is the single biggest contributor to under five morality due to greater susceptibility to infections and slow recovery from illness. Child malnutrition has an impact on education attainment. Studies show that stunted children in the first two years of life have lower cognitive test scores, delayed enrollment, higher absenteeism and more class repetition compared with non stunted children. Over the centuries, low-income families encouraged their children to eat, protecting them against famine. Even today in the poorest nations, malnutrition beginning in infancy and continuing through early childhood contributes to one-third of all deaths and slows later growth, including growth of the brain. For instance, according to a study of hungry young children in Ghana, many became depressed or mentally impaired adolescents, although few became delinquents perhaps they lacked the energy. In Brazil 30 years ago, the most common nutritional problem was undernutrition; now it is overnutrition, with low-income Brazilians particularly vulnerable. Here are some things you didn't know about malnutrition: 1. If a child becomes malnourished in the womb or before the age of two the damage can be irreparable. 2. Solutions are simple. There are 13 direct interventions, such as vitamin A that are proven to have an impact on the nutrition and health of children and mothers. 3. Improving nutrition is good investment well-nourished children are less prone to diseases and illness and are more able to concentrate at school. 4. Targeting support at pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under 2 can make a difference. 5. Tackling child malnutrition is the right thing to do. Children shouldn't be going to bed hungry every night. This topic is so meaningful to me because I see children come to school hungry everyday. It's so sad to see them eating like it is their last meal. It is so important that all children eat a healthy meal so they can grow strong and think well. References: www.motherchildnutrition.org Berger, K (2012). The developing person through childhood (6th ed.) New York, NY: Worth Publishers