God Rescues Aug1 prayer online

Choices

A look at breast feeding options. The idea of the term options implies there are choices available. For some mothers the availability of choices is taken for granted. For others the option of choice can carry a greater weight.

            As a mother of two now grown sons, I recall the research I did in deciding whether to breast feed or not. I weighed my choices by reading on the topic, and questioning family and friends who had already traveled this road. Some personal opinions of friends were based on the toll breast feeding takes upon the women’s body. Tolls such as causing sagging breast, sore nipples and moments of inconvenience. My research in readings of articles and books presented the health benefits provided to the newborn, the element of bonding between mother and child. Choices and options, some may be seen as purely selfish, others as a path to better health, nevertheless these options are available.

            For mothers in areas such as Africa where the presence of possibly transmitting an illness when weighed against the basic conditions of living options become very limited. With the birth of my first child my desire was to breastfeed exclusively. However, with his high birth weight of 9.6 ounces the nurses felt he needed to have a supplement of formula. As a new first time mom I felt a need to accept their expertise contrary to my research and desire. With the birth of my second child my desire was again to breastfeed exclusively, no supplement of formula. I enlisted the assistance of the La Leche League. The La Leche League had provided the information needed for me to make an educated choice of the options I had in using breastfeeding with my son. They also provided support in the hospital to assist me in my decision.

            The desire of the La Leche League is, “to promote mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information, and education giving a better understanding of the breastfeeding method” (All About La Leche, 2013). My understanding of breastfeeding gave me a desire to have a strong connection with my son. Mother’s milk when compared to formula is seen as the best option. I understood the need for a healthy diet, the foods and drink I consumed would be passed to my son through breast feeding.

            Complications following delivery caused emergency surgery to become necessary. I was given anesthesia, this now became something consumed by me. My mind-set did not take this reality into consideration as in my determination to exclusively breastfeed. My son would latch on to be fed and after a few moments he would fall asleep. He would wake hungry, latch on fall asleep. This activity continued for the first two weeks of his life. Finally, my mother pleaded with an exhausted new mother for her starving grandchild to be given formula. Clearly breast feeding was not working exclusively. Upon his first bottle he drank until he was completely satisfied burped and fell asleep with satisfaction. Again choices being made based on options available. The choice to be able to give my baby formula when an element within me clearly was not beneficial to my baby.

            Heart wrenching as a mother-to-mother, the thought when options weigh so heavy. The options of mothers in Africa are so different than those we sometimes take lightly. A mother infected with HIV must plough through the option of not breastfeeding and going against the cultural norm (Taha, et al., 2006, p. 546).  Not breastfeeding also flags them and their HIV status. They are also faced with living conditions where sterilization is limited. Obtaining clean bottles to feed their babies is very limited. The price of formula is expensive. Options and choices weigh heavy against each other.

            As a mother infected with HIV, the knowledge of what is flowing through her body becomes even more serious. Breastfeeding a method seen to provide the nutritional needs of the infant, becomes a thought which pierces the heart. Fantastic benefits have been researched and established to be a part of the breastfeeding experience (All About La Leche, 2013). For mothers of Africa does this experience become a death sentence as HIB outweighs the nutritional value?

            As mother and child were followed during several time increments, study did conclude the passing of the illness from mother to child. Studies identified the toll breastfeeding took upon the mother who could not handle the exhaustive duty. Many of the children did not survive pass two years of age. For some of those who did survive they lost their mother to the disease.  These are options that prove to weigh heavy against each other.

The mother child bond is an important aspect in the positive growth of a child. Mothers are encouraged to live a healthy lifestyle (All About La Leche, 2013). The African culture as a whole understands the benefits of breastfeeding as a plus. The tainting comes when the element of disease is a factor.

            Within the United States we take for granted many of the options technology and other advancements made available to us. Continued research needs to be done to find a cure for HIV. As a people we need to open our eyes to appreciate the options and choices we have in the United States. A mother infected with HIV in the U.S. has the option to feed their child formula, they have the option to feed their child breast milk donated by other mothers. They have options and choices.

            As a people we need to open our eyes to do what we can to create better options and available choices in other parts of the world.

 

References

All About La Leche. (2013, November). Retrieved from La Leche League: www.llli.org

Taha, T. E., Kumwenda, N. I., Hoover, D. R., Kafulafula, G., Ficus, S. A., Nkhoma, C., . . . Broadhead, R. L. (2006, June). The impact of breastfeeding on the health of HIV-positive mothers and their children in sub-Saharan Africa. Buliten of the World Health Organization, pp. 546-554.

 

 

Natural vs. Cesarean:

            Both of my children were brought into this world using the natural birth method. I had done research and wanted a drug free birth assisted by a mid-wife. Their birth was done in a hospital setting in case of emergency. This choice was needed with the birth of my second child.

            The labor of my first child lasted nine hours, three of those hours were done at home.

Through researching births from other areas I found in Brazil during the time my oldest son’s birth in 1989 cesarean births were 40% in public hospitals. In private hospitals cesarean births were being done at a rate of 100 percent. This was the technique of choice by doctors because the time to do a cesarean was a great deal shorter than using the natural technique.

            In 1998 the government stepped in on the Brazilian birth process. The public hospital rate of cesarean births dropped to 25%. This was done by placing a penalty on hospitals whose rate was 30% and over.

A BIT OF A LightER Hearted Side:

Mothers in Germany are encouraged to adhere to an “accepted list of names” when naming their child. If they wish to name their child an unusual name the mom must present a compelling reason why she should be allowed to use the name. With the birth of my first child, I wanted to name him JaBari after an African ruler. I had this name on my heart since I was a teenager and then at 28 years of age here was my chance. At least, so one would think. In the delivery room the pleas began not to use the name I had chosen. A team of very convincing people consisting of my mother, my husband, and a sprinkling of nurses.

While in recovery after my son’s birth, the team went into action with a barrage of reasons for not naming him “Jabari”. Exhausted from the birth I gave in and named him, “Ian” which I guess was on the acceptable list.

 

Early Childhood Education Course Resources

Desired Results for Children and Families
   www.cde.ca.gov


Early Childhood quotes
http://www.letthechildrenplay.net/2013/01/a-little-book-of-early-childhood.html


Early Education Themes
http://edhelper.com/Early_Childhood.htm

National Association for the Education of Young Children
http://www.naeyc.org/

The Division for Early Childhood
http://www.dec-sped.org/

Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
http://www.zerotothree.org/

WESTED
http://www.wested.org/cs/we/print/docs/we/home.htm

Harvard Education Letter
http://www.hepg.org/hel/topic/85

FPG Child Development Institute
http://www.fpg.unc.edu/

Administration for Children and Families Headstart's National Research Conference
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hsrc/

HighScope
http://www.highscope.org/

Children's Defense Fund
http://www.childrensdefense.org/

Center for Child Care Workforce
http://www.ccw.org/

Council for Exceptional Children
http://www.cec.sped.org/

Institute for Women's Policy Research
http://www.iwpr.org/

National Center for Research on Early Childhood Education
http://www.ncrece.org/wordpress/

National Child Care Association
http://www.nccanet.org/

National Institute for Early Education Research
http://nieer.org/

Pre[K]Now
http://www.pewstates.org/projects/pre-k-now-328067

Voices for America's Children
http://www.voices.org/

The Erikson Institute
http://www.erikson.edu/

Thoughts of Inspiration

             When there is an opportunity to operate in a career which brings joy to a life, passion is a part

of the process. Pioneers who have paved the way for many in varying fields are able to offer words which inspire. In the field of early childhood studies many times the children and their families provide that excitement. For the following contributors a yearning to help children and families was the driving force. Now the passion can not only be seen in their works but also in their words...

First there is the following contributor.

Louise Derman-Sparks, Professor Emeritus at Pacific Oak College in California explained it best, as she pointed out we may find ourselves unexpectedly in this area of work. However, working in early childhood brings passion that leads to joy and is rewarding (Laureate Education.,2012).

Then there is the doctor who helped me with my own children.

"When we strengthen families, we ultimately strengthen the community. Our goal is that parents everywhere work with supportive providers, feel confident in their parenting role, and form strong, resilient attachments with their children. To help achieve this, providers must be responsive to parents, knowledgeable about child development, and eager to see every parent succeed."

                                                                                                                        (Brazelton, 2013)

References

Brazelton, T. B. (2013). Our Vision. Retrieved from Brazelton Touchpoints Center: http://www.brazeltontouchpoints.org

Laureate Education, I. (2012). The Passion for Early Childhood [Video webcast]. (Laureate Education, Inc.) Retrieved September 2013, from Foundations of early childhood studies: https://class.walden.edu

 

My Personal Childhood Web

My web consists of a large very close family. All members support me greatly praying joy and peace into my life as well. To single out members of my family, I must include those who have had great influence, as well as, those who have great influence I  must begin with:

1.      Reverend L.R. Thompson- Maternal Grandfather. My mother and father divorced when I was quite young. My grandfather became my main father figure. I looked to him for protection and guidance. He was a Baptist Pastor, with an artistry for telling the stories of the bible, as well as our family history.

2.      Shirley – Mother: My mother has always been my strongest support system in the family. Being a single parent, she felt the need to turn up a notch in the parenting arena. She made sure I really never “wanted” for anything. Thus I am a bit spoiled, I look at the world through rose colored glasses. By the statement “Rose colored glasses”, I expect everyone in the world to be of a good nature. This outlook has often gotten the best of me. Being a strong female, she felt the need to raise me the same. Instilling in me the idea that women do not need a man to survive. Women can do just about anything a man can do. I have recently come to realize. Though women can do all, women should not do all.

3.      Aunt Georgia- Very close maternal friend: My Aunt cared about me before I was born. She along with my mother were sources of strength. My Aunt always offered the listening ear. She was my mother in another house.

4.      Janice- sister: Janice is my sister we share the same father (different mothers). Janice is my go to person. She taught me those things my mom couldn’t bring herself to teach. I learned about birth control from my sister. Janice carries out the roll of “big sis.” To the fullest.  Janice supported me by being my secret keeper.

My most memorable moment or lesson is from my mother: Boys always needed to call before coming to see me. My mother taught me, you must demand respect for yourself.

   A Child’s Imagination…..

Whether through the reading of books, telling of stories, singing of songs, or active play a child’s imagination prepares them for life. Using all of the vehicles mentioned children re-enact scenarios they have observed at home. In my 16 plus years of teaching, I have observed these re-enactments take place on a daily basis. The way mom talks on the phone while doing the dishes. The re-enacting of daddy going to more than one job. Like sponges children watch and soak in what they see as the way life should play out. Then with their imaginations they re-create their interpretations of what they have observed.

The child’s imagination is a very serious arena. As adults we must understand the complexities of the child’s imagination. As I shared with the father of one of my students after observing the child at play this area is serious. There should be importance placed on what children are exposed to or as sponges allowed to soak into their imaginations. A child observes someone being shot on one channel. The same child turns to another channel as sees the person who was previously shot doing a commercial. In the imagination of a child it is not fatal for someone to be shot with a gun.

The child’s imagination is also an arena of unlimited possibilities that include excitement and growth experiences. An imagination can be a pure fertile ground of good benefits. In an article placed in Reader’s Digest, some of the areas a child’s imagination benefits them are listed as; Developing social skills, Building self-confidence, Practicing language skills, and Working out fears (5 Benefits of Encouraging Your Child's Imagination, 2013).

          Through playing and pretending a child can navigate through a variety of ideas in
coping and handling situations. An adult can be on hand to ask those questions that will bring
deeper thoughts of unlimited possibilities.

These children took connecting blocks, made a “T” shape and called them cell phones. They then proceeded to call each other.

The artist of this painting named it “Rainbows”. She always paints rainbows. When asked why she stated, “When there is a rainbow you can paint whatever you want a flower, a cow, or goose.”

This group was simply having a meal they prepared. During the preparation they were able to voice their dislikes, and dictate who would perform each task

Imaginative play not only teaches problem solving skills, but also possibilities.

Reference

         5 Benefits of Encouraging Your Child's Imagination. (2013, September 13). Retrieved 2013, from Reader's Digest: www.rd.com/advice/parenting