Childhood Stressors

Alcoholism and its Effect on the Family

 

 This week we were asked to identify stressors that can impact children. I thought that alcoholism was a good topic because it is something that I experienced within my family as a child. My dad struggled with his addiction until I was 8 years old. My earliest experience was at the age of three. I can remember going to visit family friends.. We had gone over to celebrate Christmas and my father became too drunk to drive us home. I remember having to leave the car at the home where we were visiting and being driven home by my father's friend. I felt embarrassed, afraid, and uncomfortable in that situation. 

I think I picked this topic and this article because alcoholism is a disease that not only affects the person with the addiction, it affects the entire family. I know that this secret that was kept so closely between me and my mom negatively impacted my performance in school at an early age. I was  always worried about going home to an arguement and worried about my mother's feelings. I was always on edge. I became the peacemaker for my parents and took on more than any

five year old should have to. I shared this because I think my experience helps me empathize with students that I have had in the past.

 Parsons, T. (Dec, 2003 14). Alcoholism and its effect on the family. Retrieved from http://allpsych.com/journal/alcoholism.html

The Importance of Proper Nutrition and Immunizations Around the World

Salma Hayek Helping Children In Need  (Click Here)  

When I saw this video  I thought it touched on two of the topics we were asked to discuss this week. Malnutrition and Lack of Immunizations is a significant problem in many countries around the world. In the media clip you will see actress Salma Hayek on a humanitarian mission to help children in Sierra Leone. She partnered with the people at Pampers and Unicef to bring attention to the need to immunize children. Pampers had a campaign called, "One Pack One Vaccination". This would ensure that a child in need would be immunized in a part of the world where medicine is too expensive to buy.

The video shows that many of the girls in this country are mothers by the age of 13. Breast feeding is discouraged by the husbands because men believe they can not have sexual relations with a woman who is breast feeding. According to the doctors in the video, this contributes to the infant mortality rate in this country. While Ms. Hayek was there she also saw many babies that were dying from starvation. There was an infant boy who was one week old who was hungry. She  took the boy and began to nurse him. She said she could look into the child's eyes and see that the baby was instantly satisfied as he began to nurse from her.


This problem stresses the importance of proper nutrition for youngsters. Without nourishment children's brains will not develop properly. I was glad that she brought attention to this epidemic in the country of Sierra Leone. I think that I will continue to research this issue and try to donate money to causes that support funding for providing immunizations and food for children in need.

I think I chose this topic because it fascinates me that we live in a country where some people are actually rejecting having immunizations being given to their children. I understand why there is a fear by some people to give their children some immunizations as there has been studies that link some of the shots to causing Autism. At times I just wonder if people know how truly lucky we are here in the US.

 Reference
  
You Tube. (Performer). (2009). Salma hayek breast feeds babies in africa. [Web Video]. Retrieved from You Tube. (Producer). (n.d.).  http://youtu.be/NOnUKXjyo0U

Childbirth In My Life and Around The World

Sydney is born!

My girls on Jessica's "Birthday" May 2, 2007

On March 12, 2003 my daughter Sydney was brought into the world by Cesarean Section. After 26 hours of labor I was unable to progress to 10 centimeters and my doctor decided that it was best to perform a C-section. I have to say that by the time Sydney was born, I was so exhausted that I don't really remember caring that I couldn't deliver her by natural birth. My husband and I had gone to Lamaze classes and prepared for the coming of our new baby but we didn't anticipate having to have a C-section. The doctors did what they could to make me comfortable in the operating room. Just before  the  doctor did the  first incision she asked me if I could feel anything. I told her that I felt a sharp prick... At that point, the doctor realized that my epidural had started to wear-off.. My husband tells me that the look the doctor gave  the anesthesiologist was scary. I was given more medicine in my IV before the surgery could begin. Shortly after that I could feel lots of tugging to get her out. The birth didn't seem like it took a long time and it was probably I was so excited. Not too long after they started, Sydney was given to me in a blanket. I was so thankful that the surgery was done without any complications.



I decided to share this experience because it is my own. It's an experience that I will NEVER forget. I really did want to have a natural birth but having a healthy baby became more important than me saying that I had to have the experience of giving birth naturally. The doctor explained that they wanted to be sure that the baby was getting enough oxygen. During the course my labor, sensors were placed at the top of the baby’s head to monitor her heart rate.In the end, I was glad that the decision was made to perform the C-section.  

Traditional Chinese Beliefs about Childbirth

 

During labor and delivery

• The pregnant woman's mother is present at the first delivery but not for subsequent ones.
• The woman should try to be quiet during labor, as crying out will attract evil spirits to the new child.
• A necklace is placed around the baby's neck before the umbilical cord is cut. This ensures that the baby's life is tied to the necklace, not to the cord.
• The ideal position for labor is squatting. The baby will not have enough energy to come out if the mother is lying on her back.
• The father is not present during delivery, although he is expected to give the baby its first bath.

Reference

http://gbtimes.com/lifestyle/family/traditional-chinese-beliefs-about-pregnancy-and-childbirth 

What I learned...

When I think about  the birth of my daughter and how births take place in China, there really are no similarities. In the United States if a women has a spouse that person is usually with the mother when she gives birth. I was surprised to learn that the expectant mother in China has her mother with her during her first birth. If there are additional births, the mother performs the birth on her own. The website that I read did not go into details about what would happen in the event that there are complications during childbirth in China. I was shocked to learn that after a mother gives birth for the first time she is expected to give birth by herself for the subsequent births. I couldn't imagine having to go through a process like that without the assistance of a doctor in a hospital setting. The website also mentioned that the mother has to be quiet during birth so that the child does not attract evil spirits to the baby. The release of pain is encouraged during the birth experience in the United States. There is an effort to make sure that the mother is comfortable throughout the birth process. This is what I experienced during the birth of both of my daughters.