Consequences of Stress on Child Development

Many children are affected by stressors in their every day lives.  Personally, I was one of many children whose parents divorced when I was young.  Prior to their separation, however, there was quite a bit of noise and chaos (both stressors) going on in my life.  My parents argued frequently, though they tried to wait until I was asleep I still heard them often.  Once they separated my life was really chaotic, bouncing between parents and homes.  I was lucky though because both my parents made a concious effort to ensure that I was happy despite the bad situation.  I don't think it had a negative impact on my life, though.  I do think that I dealt with it by trying to overachieve in school, which turned out to be a really big positive in my life.  I think it did affect how I form relationships with other people, though.  I feel like I have to be "tough" all the time and sometimes that comes off as being cold towards people.  I am not at all a "cold" person and once I get to know someone I care deeply for them.  I sometimes have trouble showing that I care though, and I think it is directly related to my parents' relationship.  I do not like to complain about the situation because I know that there are so many children who have to endure so much worse.  Some children have to go through things that I don't even want to imagine as an adult having to deal with. 

One region of the world that I feel children have to deal with a lot of stress is the Middle East.  These children have spent their whole lives living in a war zone.  Every single stressor you could think of they deal with.  Violence, war, poverty, hunger, racism, noise, chaos, etc.  They live in such an unstable world it is sad to think the kind of effects the war will have on them as adults.  They will probably grow up having negative views of certain races and cultures.  Many of the children's physical growth, as well as cognitive, could be negatively affected as well.  There are organizations dedicated to reducing the negative effects of these stressors for children.  War Child International is one of those organizations. 

War Child International implements projects in Afghanistan, Burundi, Chechnya, Colombia, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Iraq, Israel, Kosovo, Lebanon, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Uganda, West Bank and Gaza according to the following themes:

• Child protection: to protect children and young people against the consequences of armed conflict.
• Education: to enable children and young people's access to education.
• Justice: to ensure children and young people's access to justice when their rights are violated.
• Livelihoods: to build sustainable local livelihoods that address children and young people's fundamental needs.
• Psychosocial: to stimulate children and young people's own psychological and social development.

The progragm is dedicated to helping both the short and long term needs of children living in war zones.  I love to see that there are other people out there who care about the effects this is having on children and are in a position to help make it better.

Child Development and Public Health: Breastfeeding

I chose to discuss breastfeeding because I am currently debating whether or not to do so with my expectant baby.  I did not breastfeed with my son and he had stomach issues for the first six months of his life.  I am wondering if he wouldn't have had those issues if I had breastfed.  So now that I am pregnant again I am considering breastfeeding this baby.  I know all the benefits there are to breastfeeding, but for me it is a matter of having time.  I work full time and have a toddler as well, not to mention the housework that still needs to be done.  It seems that breastfeeding (or pumping) would be time consuming and am worried about having that time.  Having never done it, I really do not know how long it takes or how often it would be done.  I am still learning.  But for no other reason than to not have a crying baby most of the day, I am highly considering breastfeeding this time around.  I have heard that formula is just as nourishing as breastmilk (and please do not bombard me with negativity on this comment, I know breastfeeding "activists" can get really bent out of shape about that lol.)  and I have to say that my son who was fed formula, grew just as healthily as a breastfed baby.  He just had stomach cramps whenever he ate and would cry afterwards, but he never refused to eat.  It took him awhile to adjust to formula.  I know that by breastfeeding there would not be an "adjustment" period.  I read in The Developing Person that the composistion of the breastmilk adjusts to the needs and age of the baby and is more digestable than formulas.  It also mentioned that it helps with the bonding process, which as I have mentioned before was an issue with my son due to the c-section and ppd.  But what about when I return to work?  I can't go pump breastmilk every couple hours so I would have to wean the baby to formula, so would it even be worth it to do it at all?  Like I said, I am still debating.  Any helpful advice would be appreciated.

According to the World Health Organization, the problem of having time to breastfeed is common around the world.  In Asia, breastfeeding is declining for this reason.  Since more women are working, it is hard to strictly breastfeed for the first six months.  This is common in other areas too according to the statistics found from WHO. 

Childbirth- In Your Life and Around the World

Personal birthing experience
For this I decided to discuss the birth of my son, not only because it is obviously the most meaningful to me but also because it is honestly the only one I have ever experienced (other than my own, which of course I do not remember).  The day I gave birth to my son I was 38 weeks pregnant and was only going into the doctor's office to undergo a non-stress test.  While hooked up to the monitor it was found that my son's heartbeat kept dropping very low.  Since I was so far along they decided to go ahead and induce me.  A few hours later, his heart rate continued to drop low.  The doctor decided to do a c-section to make sure there were no problems.  I was somewhat relieved that I would not have to push a human being out of me (which I was growing quite scared about) until they wheeled me into the surgery room.  Having never had any sort of surgery before, once in the O.R.  I was completely terrified.  The doctors were great though (especially the anestegiologist lol) and calmed me down.  I did not feel anything.  When they got him out they told me he was healthy but they immediatly took him to clean him up.  I did not get to hold him.  My husband showed him to me before walking him to the nursery, but it was hours before I got to see him again or hold him.  After the birth I suffered from post-partum depression for quite awhile.  I sometimes wonder if this was due to the fact that I didn't get to hold him or see him for hours and felt that I didn't get the immediate bonding that I should have.  I feel that my post-partum had a great impact on him.  I was always stressed and unhappy, and he always cried.  Looking back I know his crying was probably due to me not feeling joyful or relaxed while with him.  I truly believe that the experience during birth can have a great impact on a child's development for this reason.  After a few months when my depression finally subsided, his crying also did and he became a much happier and alert baby.  Had this not have happened, he may have been happy and alert from day one.  I am a firm believer that the state a parent is in during the first few months will directly affect the infant's state. 

Birthing experience from another region

For this I chose the birthing customs of Holland.  I was researching customs all around the world and Holland just stood out to me.  There, pregnant women are referred to a midwife by thier family doctor, no obstetricians.  More than half of the women give birth at home rather than at a hospital.  "All expectant mothers in Holland are required to pick up a kraampakket that includes all of the medical supplies necessary for a home birth." If you do opt for a hospital birth, it's unlikely that you'll get an epidural. Epidurals are usually only given if it's convenient for the anesthesiologist's schedule or if an obstetrician determines it is necessary. A unique part of birth for the Dutch is the kraamhulp (maternity home care). For seven days after birth a nurse visits the home providing medical care, parenting instructions, and sometimes even cleaning and cookinng!  Though we often use midwives in the US (I saw a midwife all during my pregnancy up to delivery) the process is far different. Women do choose home births here, but hospital births are far more common.  And what new mother doesn't wish they could have "Kraamhulp"?  I know I would vote yes for that if given the option!