On August 4, 2010 I
gave birth by emergency C-section to a 8lb 4oz baby girl at 1:05 pm at Rex
hospital in Raleigh NC. She was born 1
week and 3 days overdue. As a result she used the bathroom inside of me and she
breathed it in causing her to have PPHN (Persistent
Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn). My daughter was rushed to
Wake Medical Hospital to the NICU where she spent 30 days. Rex did not have the
machines she needed to stay alive so I was away from her for 3 days. I had my daughter
on a Wednesday and my Dr. Released me on Friday so I could be with my daughter.
Those were the longest and roughest 30 days of my life. I spent day and night
at the hospital by her bedside. With the help God, my daughters father, my
family, and, my close friends I was able to get through that difficult time. It
made me stronger and appreciate life after our birth experience. She is now
healthy and does not have any developmental delays. I chose my personal birth
experience because it affected me as an individual and it really made my faith
in God that much stronger. Birth does
impact child development however it does not determine the rest of your life.
My daughter had to see a developmental specialist only because she was in the
NICU however the specialist released my daughter from her care because she was
so advanced. I feel if a baby is born unhealthy early intervention will help
that child reach their best in development.
More Information on PPHN:http://www.childrenscolorado.org/wellness/info/parents/20830.aspx
Ni'yonna in the NICU week 1
Ni'yonna in the NICU week 3 
Ni'yonna in the NICU week 3 
Ni'yonna Christmas 2010 (4months old)
Births
in South Africa
During the birth of a baby in South Africa a midwife, nurse, and/or doctor are present. There are birthing facilities, community health centers, and district hospitals where women can give birth. In rural areas, mothers may give birth in community health. District hospitals have high maternal mortality rates. In some areas pain medication is available for women giving birth. In the USA women can give birth at home and at a hospital as well as in South Africa. Pain medication is available at all hospitals in the USA but this is not the case in South Africa.
More information on
giving birth in South Africa: http://www.midwiferytoday.com/international/SouthAfrica.asp
Tiffany,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the experience of your daughter's birth. She is beautiful and I am glad that she is doing well! Your story is a great example of the plastic characteristic discussed in Berger (2012) and how even if a child has a difficult birth, having a great environment and support can help them achieve optimal development.
Resource:
Berger, K.S. (2012). The developing person through childhood (6th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.