Consequences of Stress on Children's Development

Poverty

I grew up in a town called Terre Haute Indiana. We are located 77 miles southwest of Indianapolis, Indiana. Terre Haute is known as the cross roads of America because, it is at the intersection of two major roadways: US Hwy 40 and US Hwy 41. There is a spot in our town where if you traveled from California to Maryland and Michigan to Florida connects. This is why we are called the cross roads of America.

The current federal poverty level is approx. $23,000.00 annually for a family of four, low income is defined as having a family income below 200 percent of the poverty threshold, or $45,622.00 for a family of four. (Tribune Star Sept 2012). These are statistics from today, and I grew up in Terre Haute in the 1970’s. I was born in 1966, and poverty was very much a part of my life growing up.  

I was the middle child of three children and both of my parents worked full time jobs. We were known as latch key kids. For those who are not familiar with this saying Latchkey kids were children who came home from school to an empty house because parents worked; we were also left unsupervised many times.

My family lived in a small house which was originally a one bedroom home and basically they built walls in between the rooms for our bedrooms. We never really had enough to eat. When we had something put on our plate before us we were expected to eat it. Leftovers were leftovers until there was nothing left. We (my siblings and I) were given hand me down clothes, we rarely got new clothes. I was made fun of for having “old clothes”. My siblings and I got used to the hand me down clothes and not having enough food, it was part of our world.  The neighborhood that I grew up in was just as poor it really wasn’t until I started attending middle school did I realize how poor I was. I realized through the friends I made that there was really a lot I didn’t have growing up.

“Coping measures reduce the impact of repeated stress. One factor is the child’s own interpretation.” (Berger 2012) I believe this statement. I have taken what I grew up with and brushed it off, I have become a better person for it. I am able to relate to my families I work with and am able to have empathy for the low income. I have taken the way I grew up and use it as an example for my families. I show them with hard work and patience you can make a new life for yourself.

Rural Turkey is number one ranked lowest poverty county in the world. Rural Turkey’s has experienced more poverty over the last ten years as in the prior years. Turkey has experience extreme low income and very low poverty levels throughout the county. The problems are contributed to large family sizes, twice the national average. The adult literacy rates are far lower than the national average. Turkey has very few doctors. There are very few women that are employed in Turkey as well.

Turkey has a lot of remote mountains and areas where the poor people tend to be isolated from the rest of the nation. Turkey’s rural people are self-employed and the family is sometimes not paid for working, they are farmers and household people who live in these remote isolated areas. Poverty is not just something we can brush aside. We as a whole need to work to bring everyone, worldwide, out of poverty. 

Public Health

Public Health ~

Breast feeding 

Why should you breast feed? Breast milk is sometimes called liquid gold. This is called liquid gold because the colostrum  is the thick yellow. It is the first breast milk that the body make during pregnancy and just after birth. 

This milk is nutrient rich and the antibodies protect the baby.The  baby only gets a small amount of colostrum at each feeding,but their tiny stomach can hold about a size of a walnut. 

The breast milk changes as the baby grows. The colostrum changes into what is called " mature milk". By day three to day five the mature milk  fat, sugar, water, and protein in it. This will help the baby to develop and grow.

Breast milk is easier to digest . For most babies, especially premature babies,formula is harsh for premature babies so  breast milk is easier for them to digest. The formula is made from cow’s milk and it takes time for babies’ stomachs.

Breast milk fights disease in the baby and the antibodies that the breast milk produces helps to protect against certain illness. Formula has tried but it can not reproduce equal to breast milk. There is a lot of reports of formula fed babies getting ear infections and diarrhea. 

Breast feeding has also been shown to lower the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). Reducing Type 1 diabetes, and childhood leukemia are two other possible things that can be lowered if the mother breastfeeds. 

Mothers benefit from breast feeding too; life can be so much easier when they breast feed. The breast milk is always ready. There is no bottles and nipples to sterilize. You don't have to mix and measure anything in the middle of the night. It is there and ready to go. The baby's hunger is satisfied right away and you can go right back to sleep. 

Breast feeding can save money. Breast feed baby's are sick less, and most important breast feeding is mom and baby getting physical contact. The contact of the mother can help the baby to bond with mom. Mothers also benefit from breast feeding; they lower the risk of Type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and Postpartum Depression.

I found an article that stated Norway is doing a wonderful job of supporting breastfeeding mothers. “Norway tops the Breastfeeding Policy Scorecard ranking." They contribute this to  Norwegian mothers being given one of the most generous parental leave policies in the developed world.

After the mother gives birth," she can take up to 36 weeks off work with 100 percent of pay, or they may opt for 46 weeks with 80 percent pay (or less if the leave period is shared with the father)". "Norwegian law provides for up to 12 months of additional child care leave" The fathers take advantage of this time off as well. . When moms return to work they are given nursing breaks as they need." Norway also has nearly 80 percent of hospitals that have been certified as baby-friendly and enacted into law many provisions of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes. Norway is a very supportive environment for  breastfeed: 99 percent of babies there are breastfed initially and 70 percent are breastfed exclusively at 3 months.” I found a study that said in Norway 96 percent of babies was getting fed breast milk. What am amazing number.  

Compare this to the USA:“The United States ranks last on the Breastfeeding Policy Scorecard." The US is just one place where it is not required by employers to provide any paid maternity leave. Breaks are unpaid, and this is usually for the mom to pump breast milk. "Only 2 percent of hospitals in the United States have been certified as baby-friendly and none of the provisions of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes has been enacted into law. While 75 percent of American babies are initially breastfed, only 35 percent are being breastfed exclusively at 3 months.”

The differences between Norway and the United States amazed me. In the US we talk about “Breast is best”, The US is doing a very poor job of providing parents with the support they need to actually give their babies the “best”.Most mothers want to breastfeed and usually breastfeeding is initiation high but it soon drops off within a few weeks. There is not any support to help the mother continue to breastfeed.  Breastfeeding is natural, but community support is needed for the mothers to continue. In the US we need more Baby Friendly hospitals and support for the breastfeeding mothers. 

The reason why I chose to do this blog on Breastfeeding is I feel strongly about it. I feed my children breast milk and I work with prenatal mom's and I do my best to educate them of the benefits of breast milk. I also will continue to support mothers who do breast feed and if once I get into a position where I have staff that are breastfeeding I will support them. I will make sure there is a room in which they are allowed to breast feed. I will be an advocate  for my female staff that want to breast feed.  

REFERENCES: 

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/publications/publishing.nsf/Content/int-comp-whocode-bf-init~int-comp-whocode-bf-init-ico~int-comp-whocode-bf-init-ico-norway

http://nurturedchild.ca/index.php/2012/05/11/the-best-and-worst-places-in-the-industrialized-world-for-breastfeeding-support/

Berger, K. S. (2012). The developing person through childhood (6th ed.). Chapter 1, “Children  and Childhoods”, New York, NY: Worth Publishers.

week 2 6160

This is me: Diana Cox ~ This is what I look like sitting at my computer doing my homework. I know it is not a great picture but that is me. :)

QUOTE

The quote i chose to use what one by Robert Shaffer: 

We must view young people not as empty bottles to be filled, but as candles to be lit. 

CHILDREN'S BOOK I REALLY ENJOY

is the book I chose to talk about, the creative kid paints on the walls, floors, everywhere and then paints himself. It is a great book to talk about colors and body parts. And it is great to see the look on the children's faces know what he is doing is wrong. Very cute! I recommend for young children. 

A STORY ABOUT A CHILD THAT TOUCHED MY HEART 

As many of you know I work at an Early Head Start Program in Terre Haute Indiana. We work with children ages 18 months to 3 years old. Sometimes these children are fine, just qualify do to low income. Other times they get into our program do to a disability. 

Well the child that touches me is an autistic child. She was 3 when she came to our program. Z. had never been in any other program and was very scared and timid and did not want to be touched or play with the other children. We continued to encourage her to play and encouraged her to use sign language. It took months for us to break down the wall she had between us and her; but finally those walls were broke down, she is now laughing and smiling and playing with the other children. She is participating in circle time and using sign language and even giving hugs and playing with the other children. 

Child birth Experience

The birth experience I would like to write about is my own. My daughter was born 23 years ago September and the following is why I remember this event like it was yesterday.

My husband and I was married for over a year when we got pregnant and we were so excited. My first 7 months of my pregnancy went as planned. I gained the appropriate weight and exercised and watched what I ate and everything was perfect ~ until my seventh month. My blood pressure began skyrocketing and swelling and I was put on complete bed rest. The doctor told me I was going to lose the baby if I did not rest and keep my feet elevated. I had to go on long term disability and struggle through migraine headaches. I was at the doctors 2 to 3 times a week checking to make sure toxemia was not setting in. I then was told the baby was due on September 4, the doctors induced me on September 5^th, and I was sent home late that evening. The doctors induced me again on September 12, and again I was sent home after a long day of induction. Then finally on September 18^th, and l laid there all day, being induced and then the nurses began to ask if I needed to push. I asked what they were talking about and they began to explain…..I said that I did not and after examination the doctors determined I was only dilated to 1 ½ cm. I needed an emergency c section. I was then rushed into the emergency delivery room and given a vertical incision and delivered a 9 lb. 1oz 22 in baby HEALTHY girl. I had only gained 18lbs with her so I was completely all baby.

The region of the world I chose to write about was Niger, it is officially the most dangerous place on earth to have a baby. It was reported that in Niger childbirth was “likely to end badly. Dahara is the lady I read about, she was 26 years old and she being from Niger, “had a one-in-seven chance of dying during her reproductive years as a result of a pregnancy-related complication or infection.” The newborn in Niger has a very great chance of not reaching their first birthday and if they pass that there is a one in six chance that they will not make it to age 5. After birth Dahara will only stay for a few hours and then will tie her son to her back and walk approx. one mile to her village and will receive no after care for the baby or herself. The father will not likely be involved in with the child, since “in Niger, birth is considered to be women's work and fathers keep their distance.”

Berger (2012) states that “in the poorest nations, almost all babies are born at home; Doctors are called only for emergencies. This is why I chose to write about someone who had her child in a hospital yet the survival rate for this  child was still very slim.

                                                                  References
Berger, K. S. (2012). The developing person through childhood (6th ed.). Chapter 1, “Children  
            and Childhoods”, New York, NY: Worth Publishers. http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2006/oct/03/healthandwellbeing.health