Stressors and Young Children

Germany - World War II

My mother was born during WWII and was three years old when it finally ended.  Over 80% of her home town (Mannheim, Germany) was bombed out.  Food was rationed and items such as coal, yarn, and fabric were difficult to come by.  My mother told me that her mother was a beautician and she would barter with neighbors for yarn, fabric, and fresh fruits and vegetables.  One neighbor would give her yarn or fabric and in exchange her mother would cut the other family's hair.  Her father was a carpenter and would assist people in home repairs in exchange for coal, wood, or other items needed.  Her mother would sew their clothes and crochet & knit their scarfs and mittens.  Money was scarce but my mother said that she knew no other way of life and did not feel the "stress" of it; she believes this is due to the love and security she felt from her parents and siblings.  My mother's sister was very sickly and had severe chronic asthma.  My mother told me that all of the neighbors would help look out for her and would run to get the "neighborhood" doctor when he was needed.  She does believe that had that time not been so poor that her sister may have fared better with her health.  She remembers the chocolate factories opening when she was in Kindergarten and every 3-4 months each child in school would receive one bar of chocolate wrapped in parchment paper.  She said it is funny the things you remember but to her there was no other way of life.

CHILDREN OF AFGHANISTAN

The link below is an article I found on the children of Afghanistan and the many stressors they fight on a daily basis.  This article is their cry for help.  Everyday children live with war, poverty, sickness, death of family members and parents, having to relocate, as well as the affects of war such as lack of food and clean water.  Children are injured in bombings and in hidden land mines.  The United Nations (UN) is continuing its efforts to minimize these effects.  The article contains letters and drawings from children of Afghanistan crying out for someone to listen to them and help them.

http://www.savethechildren.org/atf/cf/%7B9def2ebe-10ae-432c-9bd0-df91d2eba74a%7D/Afghanistan-s-20Children-20Spreak-20to-20the-20UN-20Special-20Session.pdf

Public Health Issue

The topic I chose for this portion of the blog is access to clean water.  I chose this topic because I have seen places, here in our own country, where access to clean water is not always easy.  While the United States has "one of the best supplies of drinking water in the world" the "threats to our drink water are increasing" (Environmental Protection Agency, 2009).  Some individuals may be more sensitive to contaminents in drinking water than others such as, pregnant women and infants, individuals recieving chemotherapy, the elderly, and transplant patients.  Therefore, it is essential that we know what is in our drinking water and that we read our annual water statements and contact our local water departments to ensure that you are aware of what is in your local water supply.  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has worked with Congress to pass the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) "to protect public health by regulating the nation's public drinking water supply and protecting sources of drinking water" (EPA, 2009).  Even with these laws I have seen very rural areas in the Appalachian Mountains and even rural areas in my own state (Indiana) where individuals rely on well water for their drinking water.  I have even worked with families that have no running water. 

There are several microorganisms that can cause serious health affects on individuals.  There have been several local outbreaks of waterborne disease.  Last summer, in my own community, we were under a "boil order" due to contaminents in our tap water.  Some contaminents, such as nitrate, can not be boiled out of the water and pose serious health risks for pregnant mothers and infants.  Nitrates are turned into nitrites in the intestines, when they are absorbed in the bloodstream they prevent the transference of oxygen in the bloodstream.  Younger children, infants, and pregnant women do not have the enzyme to fight this and excessive levels can cause "blue baby" syndrome (EPA, 2009).

In Haiti cholera has killed more than 290 people and 4,150 cases have been reported (UNICEF, 2010).  Cholorea is a "highly virulent waterborne bacteria that causes massive and painful diarrheal dehydration" (UNICEF, 2010).  Cholorea can be easily prevented by washing hands in clean water and soap, but without access to soap or clean water this can be difficult.  This is the biggest "medical crisis" in recent years and most Haitians have never even heard of cholorea (UNICEF, 2010).  UNICEF is working diligently to stopping the spread of this epidemic.  Recently, a drop in  death rates does show that some progress is being made but it is important that the humanitarian efforts continue to stop this epidemic.

The impact of clean water is definitely knowledge I can use and will share with the families I work with on a daily basis.  It is important that pregnant mothers and families with small children have access to clean water.  One aspect I found interesting is that even in our country we need to be aware of the threats to our water supply.  Families living in old homes may have lead pipes that allow lead to seep into their water supply.  This is a condition that can even affect families living in newer homes whose pipes are considered "lead free' but still contain 8% lead.  After installation these pipes can leak significant amounts of lead into the water.  Other facts that brought to light the impact of lack of clean water include: 2.6 billion people live without proper sanitation; 1 billion have no access to safe, clean drinking water; and that 4,000 children die "each day" from unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation (UNICEF, 2010).

    
References:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). December 2009. Water on tap: What you need to know. Retrieved from www.epa.gov/safewater

UNICEF USA, October 28, 2010. Containing the cholorea outbreak in Haiti. Retrieved from www.unicefusa.org/news/news-from-the-field/containing-the-cholera.html

Childbirth

The following is a link to a video I found on childbirth in southern Mexico.  This video addresses the dangers and maternal death rate in the poorest parts of Mexico.

http://video.aol.com/aolvideo/aol-news/giving-birth-can-be-deadly-in-mexico/79090468001

The article that accompanies this video can be found on AolNews at the following link:

http://www.aolnews.com/health/article/in-s-mexico-giving-birth-is-too-often-deadly/19441738

I found this article very interesting and very sad.  It clearly shows the affect that culture has on prenatal development and maternal wellness.  It demonstrates what poor health care and lack of education can have on child development.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

My oldest daughter, Samantha (12 years old), was born September 27, 1998, 5lbs 1oz, 19 inches long.  Samantha was quiet a surprise for me since prior to becoming pregnant I was told that due to my bicornate uterus I would be unable to carry a pregnancy to term and it was unlikely I would even become pregnant.  I had regular prenatal care throughout my pregnancy, which was deemed high risk.  I had several complications throughout my pregnancy including Polhydraminos, preterm labor, and in the end Eclempsia.  Samantha was taken by emergency c-section after they stabalized me.  My Eclempsia came on quiet suddenly and rapidly progressed.  Even after I delivered Samantha I continued to bleed into my incision and ended up back in the hospital.  My incision had broken open as I continued to swell.  By the grace of God my incision to my uterus did not break open and I was able to heal from the inside out once they were able to get the Eclempsia under control.  My mother had to come to stay with me for 3 months until I was completely healed.  I do not remember much of the delivery and only remember the days after a little.  I remember being very sad and feeling like I had missed so much already.  I cried when I could not give her first bath to her and remember my mother telling me to think of her 'firsts' as the first time I do them with her.  This helped tremendously and I was able to begin to enjoy my daughter as I healed and became stronger.  I am happy to say I went on to have two more children.  Samantha was my hardest birth but all of my pregnancies were high risk.  My children are my joy and the light of my life! 

I chose this personal birthing story because it demonstrates that complications can and do happen in the U.S. as well.  I almost died having my daughter.  I was young (26) and did not know what questions to ask and trusted my doctors.  I had a very good doctor but she was also young and just out of residency, I needed a more experienced doctor.  I am thankful that I was in an area and a country where I could get good care, had I lived anywhere else I'm afraid I would have been one of the maternal death statistics.