Childbirth in Your Life and Around the World

This week I began my second class in the Master's program at Walden University. The second course is on Early Childhood Development. This week's assignments centered around childbirth and the beginning stages of development from conception to birth. For this week's blog assignment, we had a few questions to ponder and respond to, as you will see below.

1. Write about a personal birthing experience. It can be your own birth, your child's birth, or one you took part in. What do you remember about the event? Why did you choose this example? What are your thoughts regarding birth and its impact on child development?

Unfortunately, I have no prior experience with childbirth. I do not yet have my own children and have not been present at the birth of anyone else's child. The only experience I can relate to or discuss would be my mother giving birth to me on November 5, 1986. Due to this, I do not have a lot of information, only some that my parents have shared with me. My mother went into labor around 6:30 AM on November 5th and gave birth to me after over 8 hours of labor at 2:50 PM on November 5th. I was born on my actual due date (Nov. 5). My mother, Annie, did not receive any type of supplement or drug, rather she gave birth naturally. During pregnancy, she was aware of her surroundings and stuck to the typical items to not take part in and things that were encouraged, as well. She was only 20 when she gave birth to me. The only issue during pregnancy was morning sickness for a brief period during the first trimester and when giving birth/when I was first born I had an accelerated heart rate that they had to monitor very briefly but everything was fine. I had to choose this example as I did not have any other experiences to use since I have not had my own children yet and I have not taken part in any other child birthing experiences. 

Based upon discussions with my mother and the readings from this week, it is evident that the way you take care of your body and your environment as well as your actions all impact the child from pregnancy to birth and onward. My mom would be careful of what she ate, tried to get more sleep if possible, and always read books to herself and aloud to me when in the womb. I have always had a love for reading, as does my mother, and I partially think that is because she began doing that during the pregnancy and continued that throughout my years growing up.

2. Choose a region of the world or a country, other than the U.S., and find out how births happen there. Write about what you learned, and the differences and similarities with your experience (in the personal example you provided). What additional insights, if any, about the impact of the birthing experience on development did you get from this comparison?

The region I chose to research was Africa in comparison to the United States in terms of birthing methods and processes. In the U.S., women commonly go to a doctor for frequent appointments and check-ups and work with the same doctor during delivery. They are in a hospital and treated very well by nurses and doctors, usually surrounded by their own support system, as well. However, in South Africa, some of the commonalities for women giving birth are extremely opposite of the United States. In fact, it is common for women to be fearful of going to a hospital to give birth so they would rather take a risk of doing it improperly in their own home. Some of the most common and harsh realities for women giving birth in Africa were stated in an article from Medical News Today (2011) titled "The Shocking Truth About Giving Birth in South Africa":
                  
                    "Women experience verbal and physical abuse; they were pinched, slapped,
                     and handled roughly during labor; nurses continually ignored calls for help;
                     serious treatment delays; after birth, mother and baby left unattended for very
                     long periods; women are discharged inappropriately; women sent home with
                     no antibiotics or pain medication; women in labor were refused admission, 
                     they were not even examined; staff asking for bribes and gifts; families never
                     told why the pregnant mother or newborn died during childbirth,"
                     (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/232413.php)  

After reading and researching childbirth in South Africa as compared to the United States, it is evident that our processes, methods, and traditions are very different. It is also heartbreaking to know that women who are giving birth to children are treated so poorly, especially in a hospital setting. I believe that this would severely disrupt positive development due to the rising levels of stress and emotions a woman would experience during pregnancy and birth. The environment in which a child is born and welcomed into is also a crucial point to the child's ongoing development. It seems to me that there are a variety of major differences that take place in the child birthing experiences in the United States and South Africa. I do not see many similarities between the two places. In my opinion, proper medical services should be provided around the world to women giving birth for both the child's health, well-being, and proper development, as well as the women's health and well-being.


References

Medical News Today. (2011, August 8). The shocking truth about giving birth. Retrieved from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/232413.php.