Child Development and Public Health

Several years ago a friend of mine experienced the joy of bringing her first child into the world. Her and her husband brought home a beautiful bouncing baby boy from the hospital just a day after having him. Baby B was alert, pink, handsome, and the light of mom and dad's life. Because I work in early childhood and have worked with children professionally for a while now, it seems that my friends are always looking to me for a quick evaluation after they bring home a new baby, especially my friends who have and their first child. Little do they know I just really like holding babies and fawning all over them! When I first met Baby B he was about 3 weeks old, I held him, loved on him, and gave Mom a well deserved 2 hour nap. During our time together B seemed to be a typically developing 3 week old. He had amazing neck control, focused on the sounds of my voice and singing, and was a plump little bundle of love. I very much so enjoyed the time that I spent with him that day. Things would change in just a matter of weeks for my sweet friends and their child.

Three weeks later, Baby B was no longer with us. His sitter had gone to check on him in his crib and he was not breathing. My friends had lost their first child, and there was nothing they could have done differently. B passed away from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS. "Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is defined as the sudden death of an infant less than 1 year of age that cannot be explained after a thorough investigation is conducted, including a complete autopsy, examination of the death scene, and review of the clinical history" (CDC). Each year SIDS claims the life of 2,500 children each year (kidshealth.org). Like Baby B, SIDS strikes out of the blue and usually with children who can be described as typically developing. While some issues such as poor prenatal care, low birth weight, tobacco use during pregnancy, and inappropriate sleeping arrangements can increase the likelihood of SIDS, there is no direct cause and there is no cure (kidshealth.org).

My friends did everything they could to prepare themselves for parenthood. They read the books, they took prenatal vitamins, they had their house safety inspected, didn't smoke or drink during pregnancy, and still they fell victim to an experience that no parent should ever have to deal with. SIDS effects children from all races, countries, and socioeconomic statuses (kids health.org). Information for families has become available to help reduce the risk of SIDS, but as there is no specific cause, there is no way to completely eradicate it from our world.

In my experience in working at early childhood centers, SIDS is something that we always train our infant room teachers about. They all receive First Aid and CPR training and are given very specific instructions on how to handle a situation like this in their classroom. Through my research today for this blog, I think that it's important that teachers continue to receive yearly training. Many parents trust teachers with their infants for sometimes 10 hours a day, we have to be prepared to do what we can to make sure that in an instant we are able to try and save a child.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). Sudden unexpected infant death (SUIDS). Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/sids/

Kids Health. (2011). Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).  Retrieved from: http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/sleep/sids.html#

Birth Story

This weeks assignment is to talk about a personal birth story. I struggled with this all week, as I don't have a personal birthing story. I am a single, 30-something, with a younger sister who has chosen to not have children, and a group of friends that chose to be alone during their very personal birthing experiences. Luckily, this weekend I was able to spend time with my mom and dad out of town, and they were able to talk with me about a birthing story they know quite well; My own!

Almost exactly 31 years ago (my birthday is Tuesday), my parents were preparing to welcome their first child into the world. My mother, an avid reader, had read books, taken classes, and had developed an excellent relationship with her doctor. On the morning of my birth my mother prepared herself by relaxing, staying calm, and practicing the techniques she had read so much about.  My father, who was very ready to become a daddy, was not allowed to be present in the delivery room. My mom chose to have an all natural birth, and did not accept medicine. She said it's the best decision she's every made. I was born at 8:29am on January 14th, 1983 after several hours of natural labor. When my dad was finally brought into the room, he asked the doctor, "Can I touch her?" The doctor replied, "well, yes, she's yours  now!"

Both of my parents mark this as a defining moment in their lives, and I would have to agree, as it obviously had an impact on my existence. I believe that my mothers choices to have a natural birth, to breast feed me, and to raise me in an environment with love and a close family was integral to my early development, and has helped me to become the person I am today.

Many less developed cultures view childbirth in a similar manner as my mother; natural. I did some research on different birthing experiences all over the world, and found an interesting article on South Africa (http://www.spiritualbirth.net/birth-in-south-africa-indigenous-traditions). "Unlike our attitude in the western world where women are offered pain relief at the slightest twinge that labour may have begun, a young !Kung woman is actively taught that she must face the pains of natural childbirth with courage and fearlessness" (2011). My mother viewed the prospect of her first birthing experience in the same way as a !Kung woman, and I am glad that she did!

Reference

Littlejohn, M. (2011, January).  Birth in South Africa: Indigenous traditions. Spiritualbirth.net. Retrieved January 11, 2013 from http://www.spiritualbirth.net/birth-in-south-africa-indigenous-traditions