Consequences of Stress on Children's Development: Violence - Abuse

I am happy I was not abused by my intermediate family but I was physically abused by others as a child.  My intermediate family did whatever they could to protect me while I was in their care.  This is why as a new mother I will do what I can to protect my family at all times.  A positive family is a good support system.  I survived because of the continuous love I received from my family.  I didn't truly deal with what happen and learn to release the pain until I was a young adult.  The experience may cause me to be over protective of my family and myself.  I also learned I can only do what I can to protect them but with the help of prayer.







A Praying Family

 

 

 

Canada's Children

Abuse is reported all over the world.  Many families experience abuse/violence regardless of their ethnicity.  Report has shown more children decease from violence either accidental or deliberate.   I read upon the abuse of children in Canada.  Study has shown the impact of abuse is higher with girls than boys in Canada.  Maltreatment was found in preschools but more violence occurred in the homes.  Children that experience violence in their homes are more likely to display emotional disorders and hyperactivity.  Canada created a program that provide mental health assistance to everyone including children.  There is another program developed to help children deal with stress.  After dealing with stress in the home there are techniques provided to help children overcome fears, self-esteem, family break up, and it teaches them how to protect themselves.  It teaches parents and early childhood providers that children have stress.  Children learn how to deal with stress that may effect them physically, emotionally, and effect their mental health.  The psychology foundation of stress seems to be a caring program for kids and their families. The program teaches children how to interact with others, concentrate and learn.  I support anything that will help children learn how to deal with life challenges and help them face it with their heads held high, and not be afraid to try new things that will help them develop mentally and socially.   

 

Berger, K.  (2012).  The developing person through childhood (6^th ed.).  New York, NY:  Worth Publishers. 

 

Canadian mental health association.  (2013).

http://www.cmha.ca/mental-health/your-mental-health/children/

 

Child abuse prevention website. (2008). http://www.safekidsbc.ca/statistics.htm

 

Psychology foundation of Canada. (2012).  Kids have stress too!

http://psychologyfoundation.org/index.php/programs/kids-have-stress-too/

 

 

CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH: BREASTFEEDING

 

I never knew how important it is to breastfeed until speaking with friends whom are now mothers.   The colostrum in the breast milk is the best nutrition the baby can receive within the first year.  The mother's breast milk will provide the baby the right amount of iron and vitamins which will help reduce sickness and provide necessary nutrients for the baby's brain and body. 

In other countries such as Africa, the mothers are encouraged to breastfeed if they are HIV positive. The reason is because the nutrients in the breast milk will help fight off infections the baby developed from his mother during pregnancy. 

 

 

Some mothers are not able to produce enough milk to feed their baby but I have learned through research and other mothers that there are ways to produce breast milk while you're pregnant.  There was a time in my life I wasn't sure if I should breastfeed.  I considered not breastfeeding because of the stories about painful breastfeeding.  I learned there are classes and readings on how to breastfeed.  I am glad to know the benefits of  breastfeeding because overall breastfeeding is not only beneficial to the baby but mothers benefit as well.   

Childbirth In my Life and Around the World

 

I don't know a lot about my personal birth so I will share my journey as a first time mother.  It was only a few months ago when I was pregnant with identical twin girls, Sarah and Sarai.  I developed all symptoms at least two months early because there were two babies growing inside of me, at a rapid pace.  It was amazing to experience everything two months earlier than a mother carrying one child.  I felt early movements and kicks.  The back pains increased because of the amount of weight I was carrying .  I had a lot of body fluid.  Although it hurt a few times, the one thing I truly enjoyed was being able to feel them move.  It was also exciting to see them developing during the ultrasounds that were provided on large screens.  Sadly, I had a cesarean at five months because of complications.  After delivery I saw their skin was developing perfect, they had long feet, black hair, slanted eyes, long slender bodies that weighed a little over two pounds and one baby had what look like my side burns.  Carrying one child or more is not easy because complications may occur at any time.  Because we were not aware the girls were not in two separate sacs to protect them, the umbilical cord knotted which caused no air to enter into their lungs.  My first experience taught me if the girls were born during that time there would have been complications keeping them alive and a challenge helping them develop due to the lost of blood and air circulation.  I didn't want the lost to discourage me, so from last January's lost to now, I am happy to say I am three months pregnant with one baby (gender is unknown).  The experience is different because I am far from the size I was with the twins.  When I first went to the doctor at seven to eight weeks they told us to come back because they saw a sac but no baby was visual to hear an heartbeat.  We later heard a hard beat and the baby is doing fine.    



African Mother and Child-by: B Sylphir

 





I have always been interested in what I see on television concerning African mothers and the type of prenatal care they are provided.  I focused on south Africa and learned there are good facilities but the care provided by the midwife and nurses is not good care.  One report stated many of the mothers are abused or ignored by the clinics in their time of need.  The mothers do not receive proper prenatal care and may be abused during delivery.  The death rate of African mothers is high and the babies are at risk of not receiving proper care. I learned the care is different in other countries and the care provided in the U.S. is not the same care provided in South Africa.  Even though I lost my first born children, I am grateful because I was treated with the upmost respect by physicians and nurses during and after my pregnancy.  I received the necessary care and hope one day other mothers every where are able to receive the care they need regardless of the cost.

 

http://www.africanoutlookonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2503:women-giving-birth-in-safrica-are-pinched-slapped-by-nurses-reports&catid=99:outlookscroller

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