Breastfeeding

The assignment for this week in my Child Development class was to address one of several issues that impact children's development. The issue I choose is breastfeeding. This issue is relevant to me because I believe in the importance of breastfeeding when possible. I believe that children who are breast fed often are healthier than other children. They tend to show closer bonds to the mother. Breast milk is easier to digest for babies.

According to the Office of Women's Health website, breast milk is know as "liquid gold" (www.womenshealth.gov). The following is a direct quote from the website's list of benefits as related to the baby:

          

1. Early breast milk is liquid gold – Known as liquid gold, colostrum (coh-LOSS-trum) is the thick yellow first breast milk that you make during pregnancy and just after birth. This milk is very rich in nutrients and antibodies to protect your baby. Although your baby only gets a small amount of colostrum at each feeding, it matches the amount his or her tiny stomach can hold. (Visit How to know your baby is getting enough milk to see just how small your newborn’s tummy is!)
2. Your breast milk changes as your baby grows – Colostrum changes into what is called mature milk. By the third to fifth day after birth, this mature breast milk has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, and protein to help your baby continue to grow. It is a thinner type of milk than colostrum, but it provides all of the nutrients and antibodies your baby needs.
3. Breast milk is easier to digest – For most babies — especially premature babies — breast milk is easier to digest than formula. The proteins in formula are made from cow’s milk and it takes time for babies’ stomachs to adjust to digesting them.
4. Breast milk fights disease – The cells, hormones, and antibodies in breast milk protect babies from illness. This protection is unique; formula cannot match the chemical makeup of human breast milk. In fact, among formula-fed babies, ear infections and diarrhea are more common. Formula-fed babies also have higher risks of:
   • Necrotizing (nek-roh-TEYE-zing) enterocolitis (en-TUR-oh-coh-lyt-iss), a disease that affects the gastrointestinaltract in preterm infants.
   • Lower respiratory infections
   • Asthma
   • Obesity
   • Type 2 diabetes
   Some research shows that breastfeeding can also reduce the risk of Type 1 diabetes, childhood leukemia, and atopic dermatitis (a type of skin rash) in babies. Breastfeeding has also been shown to lower the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).(http://www.womenshealth.gov).

In Nigeria, breastfeeding is extremely important and is even encouraged by their government. Given the known plight of malnutrition for the children of this country, I can understand why they would support and encourage breastfeeding. According to savethechildren.org, "41% of Nigerian children under five are stunted; 14% of children are waster (too thin for their age), while nearly one in every four is underweight...only 13% of Nigerian children under six months are exclusively breastfed."

The benefit of breastfeeding are the same no matter the location. 

Birthing Experience

I chose the birth of my only biological child. This was a rather traumatic event because we both almost lost our lives. I believe that coming so close to losing my daughter made it more important to do everything I could to help her succeed in life. Her education began while she was still in the womb. I would read to her, play classical music for her, and talk to her while she was still in the womb. Today she is a college graduate and has a love of music. She lives in the south but does not have a southern draw or accent. I also had the support of both of my parents while raising my daughter. I was a single parent and was determined that my daughter would not be a statistic and neither would I. I completed my first college degree while she was still in elementary school. I worked full time to support us during this time. All of these actions and influences made a difference in how my child developed.

One of the requirements this week is to learn about birth in other countries. I chose Japan. I found the following information on a website:

During labor and delivery......

It is now common practice for the pregnant woman to have only their significant other present.
Previously,  it was customary to have only the doctor and nurse present.
Some women choose to have a "Doula" coach.  "Doula" is a program designed to help the woman deal with labor pains by using alternative measures such as foot massage, music, or walking and recommends no pain medication.
It is considered inappropriate to yell out during labor as this brings shame to their family. Grunting is encouraged rather than screaming and yelling.
Vaginal deliveries are preferred without pain medication or an episiotomy (surgical incision made to prevent tearing of the vagina).
A normal vaginal delivery would require a weeks stay in the hospital, whereas a c-section would  require a two week stay.
In Japan, there are commonly 3 to 6 patients in each post-partum room.  During the day the newborns are kept with their mothers, but at night they are kept in a separate nursery, so the mothers can rest.
In many Western hospitals, it is now common to have mothers and babies stay together in the same room.


  During postpartum.......    

It is common practice to save the umbilical cord in a wooden box.
The mother is not to wash her hair for 1 week because it is not good to flex her neck.
In Japan, the new mom usually goes to her parents home for about 20-30 days.  The grandmother will perform all household duties, because the new mom is not allowed to touch water for washing dishes or doing laundry.  She is also not allowed to drive anywhere.  After that time period, the postpartum mom returns home to her husband with their baby.
Between 30 and 32 days, the family will then return to the shrine to pray, pay respect, and to offer thanks for a safe delivery and healthy child. The ceremony is called "omiya maeiri".
In Japan, the babies are frequently named after their grandparents.
An ideal family would be made up of a married couple with 2 children. If a couple were to have 3 or more children, they are thought to be wealthy.


References:
http://www.hawcc.hawaii.edu/nursing/RNJapanese_04.html