Consequences of Stress on Child Development

The stressor I chose is poverty. When I was growing up their were a family of children that were in poverty. They did not have running water in their house. They did not have a toilet inside their house, they used the some type of potty outside. They wore the same clothes over and over and at times their clothes would be dirty. Some of the children on the bus would pick at them and I know it made them feel bad and lower their self esteem. As they got older and children would pick at them, they would put up a defend by arguing or fighting the other children. They started to get into a lot of trouble at school and would get days out for their actions. It also got to the point that they were so embarrassed that they did not want to get off the bus at home.

Africa has some of the poorest countries in the world. 43% of children do not have clean drinking water. One third of the children are under weight. Despite the challenges, their are signs of progress. The poverty rate Mozambique has reduced by 70%. Improvement is being made by partnering with other countries.

Child Development and Public Health

Immunization is a way of creating immunity to certain diseases by using small amounts of medicine to kill or weaken diseases. It is important that children get their shots at the appropriate time. This is the way to keeping your child healthy. There are many diseases out there and you do not want your child to go through life being sick. Some parents do not or wait to get their children vaccinated because they are scared their children will have a reaction to the vaccine. The risk of them having a reaction is smaller than then the risk of them getting a disease because they did not get the vaccination.

I looked up India's shot record and I notice that their children get their shots 2 weeks after USA children are scheduled to get their shots. I also notice that immunization is important to them as it is to us.

Childbirth

I can remember the birth of both of my children clearly. The one that was most memorable was my second and last one. I remember talking my mom to see my grandma in the hospital in Summerville and coming back home in a lot of pain. Well I went through all day and night Sunday. I was beating on walls, on my knees praying, and getting in and out of the bathtub. Finally, I said I will go to the hospital in the morning (Monday). I was in pain all night and could not sleep so I got up Monday morning bathe and pack my things to go to the hospital and the pain was hitting my husband could not drive fast enough. I remember one time squeezing the nurse arm so hard because of the contractions. They got me in the room and I was 8 centimeters and a hour later I had a healthy baby boy. The doctor was doing a surgery and I was ready to push and the nurse told me to wait and I said, "no, I am pushing. The doctor had to run upstairs to me. I taught up until I had him so he was read to everyday in class and at home. I took prenatal vitamins everyday and went to all my doctor's appointments. I was also put on a low sugar diet with him so the last few months I did not gain much wait because I could not drink sodas, had to count basically everything I ate.

In Japan and in the USA you have a choice to where you want to have your baby. Japan provides two free prenatal check-ups. They imposed a lot on a pregnant woman after her 8th month: not to drive, keep feet warm, and keep tummy wrapped to stay warm. Most hospitals want you to stay for about a week.