Consequences of Stress on Children’s Development

When I think of my own life experiences and the major stressors mentioned in this week’s blog assignment, I would have to say that I have been blessed to have not have had to personally experience any of these stressors.  

I chose to continue to explore the country of Cambodia as I mentioned them in last week’s blog post. As I previously mentioned the country of Cambodia had a very high percentage of breastfed babies in 2010. Water Pollution was one factor that contributed to this high percentage. According to the Water for Cambodia website, Over 50% of the rural Cambodian population does not have access to safe drinking water (Water for Cambodia, 2013). The website also reports 20 percent of childhood deaths of children under the age of 5 are a result of waterborne illness. I imagine that this would cause the children there to live their lives afraid of death and becoming ill. They may not want to get close to other children socially for fear of losing their friends or their friends losing them to illness.  

Water for Cambodia. (2013). The Problem. ) Retrieved from http://www.waterforcambodia.org/

Child Development and Public Health Topic: Breastfeeding

I chose the topic of breastfeeding because I chose to breastfeed both of my children and believe that it is one of the best things a mother can do for her children. While I do understand that not all mother’s may be able to produce milk or breastfeed their children as long as they wish to due to low milk production I believe every mother should at least try as breast milk is the best source of nutrition for children. I was able to breastfeed my daughter for 10 months but was only able to breastfeed my son for 6 months. Breastfeeding came very easy and naturally for me after having my daughter. I tried to learn as much as I could prior to having my daughter and I also took a lactation course during my third trimester so that I could be prepared when she arrived. My mother and mother in law did not breastfeed their children so I could not go to them for help. I did not receive very much encouragement to breastfeed from them because of their lack of knowledge for the subject and their negative feeling towards it. After the birth of my daughter they were able to see why I was so determined to breastfeed and was able to educate them and dispel of their preconceived notions about the process. Looking back at the process I wish that I could have had more time at home with my children in order to be able to strictly breastfeed them for the first year of their lives but I had to return to work so I had to pump and store milk for them to receive while I was away from them. This was not an easy process and is what led to me having to stop breastfeeding both of my children due to my milk drying up.

Breastfeeding in Cambodia

The World Health Organization recommends “exclusively breastfeeding for the first six months of life to achieve optimal growth, development and health”(WPRO, 2013)  It is also recommended that breastfeeding continue for up to two years or more while ensuring that the child receives nutritious and safe foods as their nutritional requirements change with age.

WHO reported 74% of infants were exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of their lives in 2010.

Country Year Infants exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life (%) American Samoa (USA) 1997 20.00 Australia 2001 46.00 Brunei Darussalam 2003 14.60 Cambodia 2010 74.00 2008 66.00 “An innovative and engaging media campaign, coupled with extensive health-worker training and the establishment of Mother Support Groups resulted in healthy children and a reduction in the infant mortality rate” (UNICEF, ). The elimination of “roasting” the process of warming the mother following children birth by layering clothing and staying in a small room on a bed over hot coals and consumption of wine and herbs to keep warm has also contributed to the increase. Exclusive breastfeeding also prohibits the baby from being exposed to dirty water via formula consumption. Breastfeeding and its Impact on my Future Work As the director of a Teen Parent childcare program, I will continue to share my breastfeeding experiences and new found information with the teen mothers that I teach and mentor. I will continue to provide them with the encouragement and resources that they need to make their experience as comfortable and rewarding as it was for me and my children. World Health Organization (2013).  Infant Nutrition Retrieved from : http://www.wpro.who.int/topics/infant_nutrition/en/index.html UNICEF East Asia and Pacific (2013) Breastfeeding in Cambodia is the new “normal”. Retrieved from: http://www.unicef.org/eapro/media_20202.html

Childbirth in Your Life and Around the World

Childbirth in my Life and Around the World

I have chosen to speak about my own experience of giving birth to my children because these were two of the most important and best days of my life. Looking back on giving birth to both of my children I remember how happy I was to finally be able to see their faces. Unlike most people I have spoken to about childbirth I found giving birth and the pains of labor to not be as bad as everyone made it out to be. I found being pregnant as the worst experience of my life and would never put myself in that position every again. Being pregnant to me was very uncomfortable and the feeling of constantly being nauseous, tired and agitated did not sit well with me. Being an athlete the majority of my life helped me to prepare and get through the labor and delivery process. I treated my labor as if I was competing in a championship and I was not going to let any pain stop me from achieving my goal, giving birth to my children. I stayed calm, focused and had my husband at my side cheering me and coaching me to the finish line. I had an epidural to ease the pain for my first child but did not have one for the birth of my son. I felt so accomplished and overjoyed with myself after giving birth to my son without pain medication. I would not recommend this to everyone as everyone has a different tolerance for pain. Both of my children were born in a hospital and I was under the care of an OB/GYN who was very supportive of me during both pregnancies.

I believe birth impacts child development as it demonstrates the end result of the development that takes place inside a mother womb. The fetus has been nurtured and grows inside of its mother all while it is developing from a single cell into a full term baby that has a functioning brain, organs and limbs.

Childbirth in Canada

I chose to compare my childbirth experience with my close friend from Canada. In Canada pregnant mothers are seen by a doctor as I was but they are not required to pay for any of their medical care. We both gave birth in hospitals under the care of a doctor but I had to return to work after 12 weeks and mothers are allowed to take up to a year off to be with their children. I believe being able to take up to year off with your child allows mothers to bond with their children and spend time nurturing and caring for their child during a critical learning period in the child’s life.