Violence

Violence

I was exposed to violence in my home growing up. My father abused my mother almost daily, until she decided to get away and move out of state. At times I thought this was a normal way of life, until I started to visit my friend’s homes and realized that their father did not yell or beat on their mom. I grew up not trusting and male figure, except for my grandfather. When I met my husband and we moved into our first home, I told him that if he ever hit me I would make sure he never hit another person. Thank goodness he was not that type of man. My children are very fortunate to have grown up in a home where the parents never argued or fought in front of them. To this day I do not like to hear of a woman and or children being abused. I am a true advocate against violence in the home.

I read up on UNICEF, they help children in war torn Iraq. These children are around violence and think of that as a normal way of life. UNICEF is calling for schools within Iraq to be a security safe zone for children and their teachers. “Schools are a haven for children in times of conflict,” said UNICEF Iraq Chief of Education Mette Nordstrand. “They are protected under international law as zones of peace. No matter what the circumstances, the only proper use for an Iraqi school is to educate and protect Iraqi children.”   UNICEF has been assisting the children of Iraq since the war crisis has begun and will continue their support for the children and people of Iraq. UNICEF Emergency Specialist Luciano Calestini. “However, the psychological impact on children will be far harder to heal. It is absolutely critical that they see an end to this violence and can get back into school as soon as possible.”

Reference

Hajaj,C. (2008,April,21). Violence in Iraq disrupts Life and Education. Retrieved from UNICEF website: http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/iraq

Benefits of breastfeeding

For the first three days after the birth of the baby a woman secretes Colostrum, a high calorie fluid (Berger 2009). In comparison to cow’s milk, a mother’s breast milk is at body temperature, sterile, and contains vitamins, irons and other nutrients for the body and brain. Recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics states that babies should be fed breast milk exclusively for six months, but can continue for twelve months if the mother desires.

Research has shown breast milk has many advantages. Breast fed babies have a decreased chance of developing respiratory and ear infections, asthma, bacterial meningitis, SIDS, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Research is also showing the advantage of being breast fed last well into adulthood. There is a decreased risk of developing breast cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

I looked at several cultures and their values on breastfeeding. The !Kung San (or African bushmen)  live in isolation on the plains of the Kalahari Desert. Over the past forty years, the! Kung has allowed scientists to observe their lives, including how they care for babies.

The ancient wisdom of the !Kung San focuses on three actors:

1. Constant holding

2. Immediate responding

3. Very frequent breastfeeding                  

!Kung San mothers breastfeed their baby three to four times an hour. This equals to fifty to one hundred times a day.

Reference

Berger, K. S. (2009). The developing person through childhood (5th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.

http://www.happiestbaby.com/cultures/breastfeeding-other-baby-lessons-from-the-kung-san/

http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/importanceofhumanmilk.htm

My grandson's birth

When my second grandson Sean was born I was with my daughter and son-in-law. Her water broke at seven p.m. on a Friday evening. When she arrived at the hospital she was dilated four cm. By the time I arrived she was in bed with her I.V. in place and the baby heart monitor on. We were all excited and thought we would be in for a very long night. Well Sean had other thoughts, by eight thirty her pains were five minutes apart she has not dilated any further. The nurse gave her some meds to help along the contractions. Two hours later she was at seven cm. By eleven thirty they decided to start her epidural, after that was in place the nurse decided to check her again, she was a full ten cm. I was right by my daughter’s side helping with her breathing and counting as she pushed. My son in was pushing with her, I was waiting for him to pass out and hit the floor. She pushed for thirty minutes and Sean would not come down any further. The doctor sat her up waiting for Sean to slide down, by one forty-five a.m. she is in the full mode of pushing again. At two a.m. my beautiful grandson Sean Matthew was born weighing seven pounds and he was twenty one inches long. I will always cherish that memory of watching him be born and love my daughter and son-in-law for allowing me to be a part of it. Today Sean is a happy healthy seven month old little boy.

                        

               

                                                                                                               

 A woman giving birth is seen as an accomplishment in Sweden. The women have pain medicine available to them during labor; however, it is not encouraged to be used. Midwives are highly trained and work in the hospitals, therefore the instance of epidural is lower. Fortunately, prenatal care is free and the absence of it is unheard of.  

 Reference:

http://www.pregnancy.families.com