Child Development and Public Health

Breast Feeding.
 Exclusive breastfeeding refers to feeding an infant with breast milk only without any other liquid or supplement during the first six months. From research this has a load of benefits to both mother and child. Exclusive breastfeeding has a potential to prevent at least 13%of all under five death in developing countries. Also, it could help avert about 55-87% of neonatal deaths.
Other benefits include:
It's easier to digest than formular
It fights diseases in children and mothers
Saves money
Helps mother-child bonding
It could help reduce the rate of breast & ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes, postpatum depression, etc in women.
When breastfeeding as a woman,the oxytocin hormones are produced which can calme the woman.
Breastfeeding protects from risk of contaminated water supply in developing countries epecially
It has the right temperature and hence helps prevent hypothermia -a state where the body temperature drops below normal

For me, breastfeeding is most appropriate for infants; After reading the numerous benefits, I came to this conclusion. I practiced exclusive breastfeeding with my kids. Breastfeeding is meaningful to me because it's the cheapest means of protecting these littles from illness and malnutrition at the early stage of life particulary in the developing countries where the standard of living is relatively low.

Intrestingly, in Kuwait (one of the richest countries in the world), breastfeeding is not a popular practice due to the fact that formulars are well subsidized by the government and inadequate professional support. Mothers begin to give their babies water, juice and herbs from the very first month and about 32.8% below six months use bottles. Some other misconceptions about breastfeeding is that breast milk is not sufficient for infants; it is only meant for babies who came through ceaserean section, and only babies who spent some time in special care wards may need it. But, science has shown how small babies' stomachs are and that breast milk is just sufficient for this size, also all babies need breast milk whether full term or premature babies.
  As a result of this, there's a high rate of 24% of chronic malnutrition amongst children who are under 5yrs of age in Kuwait despite her wealth.
From this data, breastfeeding could be beneficial to women and children in developing countries as it can reduce greatly the rate of malnutrition (one of the causes of infant deaths in developing countries).

Being aware of this information, I would be an advocate in this area by telling as many mothers (even fathers) that I know the benefits of breastfeeding. This information has also helped me in erasing my ignorance--before now, I used to think breast milk is not sufficient for twins or tripplets, but from research, reverse is the case. So, mothers with twins and tripplets could go ahead with exclusive breast feeding for some months(Berger, 2012). But the challenge here is with working mothers who especially are the breadwinners of their home--it might be pretty difficult to cope with exclusive breastfeeding

References
http://worldbreastfeedingtrends.org
http://unicef.org/media/images/fact_sheet.doc
http://womenhealth.gov

Childbirth in My Life and Around the World

My daughter came at 1a.m on the 4th of October 2009 ( in her 41st week) after about 8hrs of labour. She weighed 3.6kg. Her prenatal development went well despite urinary tract infection I had. At some time I was asked to take antibiotics and other times was asked not to because it could be harmful on the emdryo, of course this was about the 3rd and 4th month. I was placed on calcium, folic acid, blood giving tablets and anti malaria drugs as malaria is a threat to pregnant women and children in Africa.
Contractions started on the previous day and I went to the clinic where I have always attended antenatat sessions. I was 2cm dilated but asked to stay back in the clinic as a first timer. After several contractions, I was about 8cm gone and was taken to the delivery room where I spent about 1hr before she finally came out through tht virginal with an episiotomy.

Gavrila, My daughter

I chose this birth experience because it was my first and it served as an eye opener to me- my subsequent pregnancy was much easier because I was prepared for every stage as I knew what to expect.

For me, birth is closely related to child development because the definition of child development put into consideration life before, buring and after birth. Birthing methods and processes I believe should be handled by professionals. At birth, tisues and organs(which are the development target) are still tender. So, all care should be taken in handling them so as to prevent any damage to any of these parts.

In Nigeria, births still occur at home and some religious centres unlike in the US where about 100% of births take place in medical centres. Herbs and concotions are taken by some pregnant women in order to hasten child delivery. Malaria has been a threat to pregnant African women in the past years, hence antimalaria drugs are given as prevention all through the nine months. Malaria during pregnancy is said to be the cause of jundice at birth.
During delivery in most clinics, family members are not allowed into the delivery room except on emergencies. Pain relief are rarely given and Non-Invasive prenatal diagnosis is not so popular in Nigeria. The most popular method of detecting any deformity of feotus is through the ultrsound.
Fibroid during pregnancy is a common case in Nigeria but thanks to the improving medicine that is able to manage that.