Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is a special bond between a mother and child. Nation wide breastfeeding is common. Currently, I am not a mother but I have always imagined that I would breastfeed my children. Growing up I always wondered why my mother never breast fed any of my siblings. When I asked my mother why her reply was "After marriage I had all of you back to back. It would have been hard and draining to breastfeed because right after birth I had to go right back to work to help with providing for the family". A part of me understood her reasoning because it was a struggle growing up and my parents worked a lot to make sure our basic needs were taken care of. A major reason why I chose breastfeeding because it is not common at all in my family. I have 8 sisters and not one of them breast fed any of there children. I want to be the difference in my family. I want to have that connection with my children. Also, I want to be able to ensure that my child have the best nutrition.

There are many benefits to breastfeeding. Listed below are a few ways of how it is beneficial to the baby, mother, and the family

For the baby

• Protection against childhood diseases, since breast milk contains antibodies
• Breast Milk has micronutrients not found in formula
• Less Infant illness, including allergies, ear infections, stomach upsets
• Balance of nutrition (fat, protein, etc.) adjusts to age of baby

For the Mother

• Easier bonding with the child
• Reduced risk of breast cancer and oesteoporosis
• No formula to prepare; no sterilization
• Satisfaction of meeting infant basic needs

For the Family

• Less stress on the father, especially at night
• Increased family income (because formula and medical care are expensive)
• Increased survival of other children (because of spacing of births)

For more information on of Benefits of Breast-Feeding you can visit http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/2010/12/breastfeeding.html

Although breastfeeding is universal the rates in other countries vary. Australia is the country I chose to research. Breastfeeding is Australia is highly encouraged.  This country even has made laws to protect women who breastfeed. Approximately 92 per cent of Australian babies are breastfed at birth However, there was a sharp decline in both full and any breastfeeding with each month post birth. A primary reason why the rate in breastfeeding dropped is because women return to work. Some other leading causes are inadequate milk supply, problems with breastfeeding, and some feel it is just a need to stop. Australia developed a breastfeeding strategy to help promote, protect, support, and monitor breastfeeding. The full strategy can be viewed at Australian National Breastfeeding Strategy.

In addition, I took the liberty of finding information about how people viewed woman who breast fed in public. In each country there are different views. In Australia the government created laws to protect mother's who wish to breastfeed in public. These laws protect them from any discrimination in the workplace, in public restaurants, as well as any where in the community. There are hotlines available for woman who experience negative comments about breastfeeding publicly. For the Full list of laws you can visit Breast-Feeding in public, your legal right.

I believe that the information I gathered can be useful to all mother's. As a home childcare provider I hope to promote breastfeeding. Woman should have the opportunity to experience breastfeeding regardless of if they have to work or not. I believe that by communicating the benefits and the importance of breastfeeding it will encourage mothers (starting with my sisters) to start breastfeeding. Also, I feel that once I have a child of my own and breastfeed this will be proof to my family that breastfeeding can be done while working. Some people say "I believe it when I see it" so I want to be the proof that people need.

Reference
Berger, K. S. (2012). The developing person through childhood (6th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.

Precious Memory of Childbirth

February 26, 2002 will be a day that will be a precious memory for me. I had the opportunity to help coach my older sister while giving birth to my nephew. Now we went to parenting classes to help prep us for the big but the experience in the classroom was way different from the hospital room. It seem like once the baby was actually coming everything was fast. I was blessed to be able to stand beside my sister because I was the only sibling with enough courage to handle the pressure. Once we got to the hospital I watch as they prep my sister and placed her in a room. Things was pretty good until that pain started kicking in faster and faster. Before I could call the doctor he was already in the room giving my sister epidural. Now let me say I have no children of my own so I don't know what contractions feel like at all. However, when that doctor came in the room with that huge needle I remember bending over asking my sister "Girl you sure you want this".  She gave me this look that gave me confirmation that she wanted this. The labor seem like forever but when it was time to push it seemed everyone was excited but my sister. The pushing was not so good for sister. After like four or five pushes I remember my nephew getting stuck. Next thing I see are these silver clamps and I'm thinking to myself "what in the world is the doctor about to do with those"? At this point I"m panicking but I had to keep it together and be strong for my sister. With the help of the clamps and some more pushing my nephew finally arrived and he was a screaming baby. He was a healthy child and it was day I will never forget.

Currently, I have no children of my own. My fiance would like at least one and I'm working on enough courage to someday give him a child. The birthing experience was scary to me but precious at the same time. I do have a fear of having children just because I know that with each one of my siblings there was always complications and i just fear that I too may have some. I chose this experience because it taught me how to be a team mate and have patience. My nephew father wasn't around when my sister was pregnant and I had the opportunity to be a good support to my sister even at a young age. From my experience with my sister I think that the classes we took together, going to her prenatal appointments, and the activities we did help with the healthy outcome of my nephew. He is extremely smart and he learned how to read a very young age.

Japan has different views and beliefs when it comes to child birth. What I have learned from the research is that Japanese mothers are not allowed to have anyone in the room but the doctor, nurse, and significant other. Here in the US I along with both of my parents were permitted to be in the room. When giving birth vaginal deliveries are preferred without pain medication or an episiotomy (surgical incision made to prevent tearing of the vagina). As soon as that pain start kicking in my sister requested pain medication. I don't think she would have agreed to a natural birth. Listed below are some more key things about the Japanese culture.

After the child is born the following things happen in the Japanese culture:

• The mother is not to wash her hair for 1 week because it is not good to flex her neck.
  
• In Japan, the new mom usually goes to her parents home for about 20-30 days.  The grandmother will perform all household duties, because the new mom is not allowed to touch water for washing dishes or doing laundry.  She is also not allowed to drive anywhere.  After that time period, the postpartum mom returns home to her husband with their baby.
• Between 30 and 32 days, the family will then return to the shrine to pray, pay respect, and to offer thanks for a safe delivery and healthy child. The ceremony is called "omiya maeiri".
  
• In Japan, the babies are frequently named after their grandparents.
• An ideal family would be made up of a married couple with 2 children. If a couple were to have 3 or more children, they are thought to be wealthy.

To find out more visit  http://www.hawcc.hawaii.edu/nursing/RNJapanese_04.html