Childhood Poverty

As a child during my early childhood I lived in poverty. My mother had six children at the time and we all lived with my grandmother. My mother relied on the government's welfare system to provide food for us, provide health care for us, and other basic necessities. I remember there were a number of events offered at my elementary school however I often times could not participate because my mother did not have any money to give me. I never knew we lived in poverty until I became a little older. We had fun as kids playing outside and enjoying things we had. My mom was addicted to drugs and was unable to provide for us. My mom often neglected our basic needs. There were times when we didn't have food in our home. My mom would go to different churches and get us food. We never really went hungry because my mom made sure we had food. When I was taken away from my mom and moved with my great aunt I realized there were things that we had at her house that my mom never had at her house. Living in poverty was a generation curse for my family. When I graduated from college I had to rely on the government to care for me and my 1 year old daughter. I received government assistance for 5 years. One day I asked God to release me from the generational curse of poverty. I no longer wanted to rely on the government to take care of me and my children. I began to pray and ask God for help. He gave me the idea to write children's books. I published my 1st children's book this year and made a promise to never rely on government assistance again.  




https://www.children.org/fight-child-poverty-mexico

CHALLENGES FOR CHILDREN IN POVERTY

Over half of Mexico’s population lives in poverty. Over 7% of children under age 5 are malnourished. The average income of sponsored families is $400/month, of which 75% is typically used for basic necessities like food, water and clothing.

Solutions

• More than 18,000 poor youth and children in Mexico are sponsored.
• Sponsored youth and children in poverty receive vital assistance like free medical and dental care, nutritional support, educational assistance, family aid, clothing, school supplies and uniforms, shoes and more.
• Five CI community support centers in some of Guadalajara’s poorest areas provide safe havens for sponsored children, with access to computers, libraries, tutors and more.
• A broad youth program helps sponsored youth learn to be leaders, develop job and life skills, learn about finances, participate in organized sports and give back to their communities.
• An average of 90 HOPE scholarships are granted annually to eligible sponsored youth wishing to continue their educations.

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding has been meaningful to me because I tried breastfeeding both of my daughters. I was encouraged to breastfeed them because they were in the NICU. The nutrients in breast milk help babies especially babies in the NICU. Breastfeeding was difficult for me. My children did not latch on so most of my time was spent pumping. I pumped for a month with my first daughter and only a week with my second daughter. I fill like I failed as a mother with breast feeding. I’m not sure how breastfeeding will impact my future work. However if I have more children I will try to breastfeed again.

http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2014/05/26/315281803/mexico-citys-campaign-to-encourage-breast-feeding-backfires

This is an article about  Breastfeeding in Mexico

 

Little Support For Nursing Moms

Breast-feeding rates in Mexico are among the lowest in Latin America. Only 14 percent of women breast-feed their children exclusively in the first six months, the recommended standard set by the World Health Organization. Meanwhile, childhood obesity and breast cancer in Mexico are on the rise. Studies show breast-feeding might help lower the risk for both diseases.

There are many reasons why women aren't breast-feeding in Mexico, adds Tames. Poverty and poor nutrition top the list, but also more women than ever have entered the workforce. Hours are long, which makes breast-feeding during the day challenging, while pumping milk at work is not encouraged and in many cases prohibited.

Heath advocates also point to Mexico's unwillingness to regulate companies that sell baby formula. Mexico has yet to sign on to the World Health Organization guidelines that restrict hospitals from handing out free baby formula and marketing their products to new mothers.

Chessa Lutter, the regional adviser for the Pan American Health Organization, says Mexico does have rules for doctors and nurses to promote breast-feeding and provide lactation areas in the workplace. But she says there is little enforcement.

 

Two personal birth experiences

On August 4, 2010 I gave birth by emergency C-section to a 8lb 4oz baby girl (Ni'yonna) 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 keep her 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. I could not hold my baby until she was 8 days old :(  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 issues. She will go to kindergarten in August. 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

Arianna

On September 26 2013 at 10:05 am  I gave birth by C-section to a 6lb 4 oz baby girl (Arianna) at Rex hospital in Raleigh NC/ She was born one week early. My C-section was scheduled. The first 24 hours seemed really normal. My baby spent the night in my room however she was not eating. She also did not poop in the first 24 hours. This cause great concern for the doctors because her belly was very big. The Doctors took my baby to the special care nursery to monitor her. A few hours later the same doctor that spoke with me about my oldest daughter came in to my room and spoke to me. He said they were rushing my baby girl over to Wake Medical. My 2nd daughter was born with a condition called hirschsprungs disease. She had surgery at 2 days old to have a colostomy bag. She pooped in the bag for 3 months before having reversal surgery. She then came home but had to be rushed back to the hospital because she was vomiting and no longer pooping. She then had emergency surgery because she had a blockage. Thank God she is doing wonderful now. I went through some tough birth stories but God is real and my children are living witnesses.

More information on Hirchspprungs Disease.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hirschsprungs-disease/basics/definition/con-20027602
"Hirschsprung's (HIRSH-sproongz) disease is a condition that affects the large intestine (colon) and causes problems with passing stool. Hirschsprung's disease is present when a baby is born (congenital) and results from missing nerve cells in the muscles of part or all of the baby's colon.
A newborn who has Hirschsprung's disease is usually unable to have a bowel movement in the first days after birth. In mild cases, the condition might not be detected until later in childhood.
Hirschsprung's disease is treated with surgery to bypass or remove the diseased part of the colon".


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