I have encountered many people that have experienced a disease, poverty, hunger, violence and racism. My family members have shared many stories of racism they have witnesses and experienced as children themselves. I have a close friend that experienced poverty when he was younger by not having a stable home; living in hotels and shelters. This child was still able to attend school daily and did very well. His mother was struggling with a disease, she was an alcoholic along with being a single parent. The child was placed in a solid home with extended family and is now thriving in high school. I also know of someone that experienced violence in his home as a child. Unfortunately, his mother was involved with someone that was verbally and physically abusive. In which he also experienced not having too much to eat at times as a child. His mother was able to get away from the abuse and start over for her and her children. I believe that this has affected this person as an adult.
 

For anyone that has experienced racism, poverty, disease, hunger and violence; these are extreme stressors that will affect them as adults. It can affect their own relationships and their view of the world around them. The coping strategies that they expressed to me as children consisted of wanting to please their parent by being a good child; avoiding the abuse and not wanting their mothers worry about them. I feel that they have learned to internalize their feelings, letting them out in an unhealthy way.

All of these stressors effect children and follow them in adulthood; a lot of times they carry these experiences in to relationships. I believe that these stressors affect their bodies in terms of the nutrition that they are consuming; in which will have a profound affect their brain development. In some cases, children that witness abuse can become abused themselves resulting in death. According to Berger, Canada has a fewer rate of children dying from violence than the U.S and in all of the nation’s children are dying from accidents more than anything else (Berger, The Developing Person through Childhood, pg.242).

 

References:

Berger, The Developing Person through Childhood, pg.242

The Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is defined as; “A situation in which a seemingly healthy infant, usually between 2 and 6 months old, suddenly stops breathing and dies unexpectedly while asleep (Berger Text pg.5).”  This is meaning full to me due to the impact it has on families across the globe. Unfortunately, many families experience this terrible tragedy and are trying to find answers. On the contrary, there has been a reduction in SIDS due to parents being taught to put babies on their backs to sleep; instead of letting them sleep on their stomachs. Therapist are encouraging parents to have tummy time with their children to strengthen their muscles to fight SIDS. According to Berger, SIDS has reduced in the U.S and Canada but not decreasing as much in New Zealand. There are other factors such as low birth weights, brain abnormalities, soft pillows and blankets and cigarette smoking in the home.

Susan Beal did a study about SIDS deaths in South Australia, finding a correlation between lab skin blankets and smoking (the mother). She also discovered that European babies died from SIDS than babies of Asian descent. She came to the conclusion that Asian families placed their babies on their backs to sleep; thus sleep pattern theory was developed. Personally, I used to work for a program that taught first time parents the importance of infants sleeping on their backs. This information from Susan Beal gave me more information of the research behind infants sleeping on their backs. When I had my first child I was told to have her sleep on her back as well, while being wrapped up tightly. I also had my child use a pacifier; in which also reduces the risk of SIDS. I will continue my research on SIDS in the future, hopefully it will continue to decrease.

 

Reference:

Berger, Text pg. 5

 

A birthing experience that I would like to share is that from my own. I have a two year old daughter that is my one and only child. What I remember the most about the event is the pain that I was in for a long period of time.  I couldn't imagine how much pain labor entailed. I remember being in labor for about 24 hours and 12 of them without any medication. In the end I had an emergency C-section due to my daughter not being in the birth after a period of time she was stuck. I remember my family was present the entire time and my husband stayed by my side. The epidural that I was administered took the edge off of the pain for a while but I still felt most of it. I was so exhausted from the medication that I passed out after I heard her cry for the first time. Allot of that time after surgery was kind of a blur; but with a beautiful and healthy baby. I chose this as an example because it has been the only birth that I have witnessed or been apart of my whole life.  

My opinion about birth and the impact on child development is; that its very important that mothers get prenatal care as soon as possible. Also to become educated to be aware of the signs of early labor. Being sure that they see a physician in this period of time is important to health of the baby and mother. I feel that women are putting themselves and their children at risk when they do not seek medical assistance during such a challenging ordeal. With out the proper care from birth a child will have an increased risk of not surviving. In Denmark their birthing experiences are similar; in which they use hospitals for births and infants are vaccinated as in the U.S. Although, in Denmark the mother receives three to six months off for maternity leave that is shared with the father is different in the U.S. Mothers in the U.S are only given a guarantee of six weeks of maternity leave; that typically is not shared. 

Reference:

http://www.everyculture.com/Cr-Ga/Denmark.html