Child Development and Public Health

As I plan to start my own family within the next year, the topic of breastfeeding seems to come up often. My mother chose not to breastfeed me because I could never get the latching part down. According to the CDC, 79% of newborns are breastfed in the United States in 2014. Preschools here are creating rooms at their facilities so mothers can come pump or breastfeed in a comfortable environment. The city of New York City provides a course to become a certified lactation counselor to help staff who work in their newborn home care program to help educate and support new mothers that plan to breastfeed. These such programs are not available in other parts of the world to help aid mothers.

Breastfeeding in West and Central Africa

Exclusive breastfeeding in these parts of Africa is only at 20% where in certain countries is as low as 2% which are some of the lowest rates in the world. Breastfeeding provides the best source of nutrition for newborns and has the potential to prevent 13% of deaths of children under the age of 5. Breastfeeding also reduces the chances of catching and reduces the severity of infectious diseases that an infant may come across in these countries.

References

Breastfeeding Report Card 2014. (n.d.). Retrieved November 8, 2015, from http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/pdf/2014breastfeedingreportcard.pdf

Promoting and Protecting Breastfeeding. (n.d.). Retrieved November 8, 2015, from http://www.unicef.org/wcaro/4501_5055.html

Birthing Experiences

I really don't have any birthing experiences except for my ow n birth. I was born on New Year's Eve, a month and a half before my mother's due date. She was trying on her dress for the New Year's party she was going to on New Year's Eve. My aunt took my mother to the hospital. When I was born, I only weighed 2.1 pounds. The doctor told my mother that since I was so early that I may have some developmental delays. I had to stay in the hospital for nearly 2 months until I gained enough weight to be sent home.

Child Birth in Spain

First healthcare is free to those who live and work in Spain and are contributing to social security. Private insurance is available but is only necessary to give birth in private clinics. Just like going to an OB/GYN doctor here in the States, you would go to the local clinic and confirm the pregnancy. Once it is determined that you are pregnant, a community midwife comes and visits you once a month to monitor your progress. The midwife schedules you for a scan once a month up until your 32nd week and at that point scan are done every 2 weeks. Once it is time for you to give birth, you must go to the emergency wing of the hospital with you consultation book from the midwife and all other necessary paperwork. Hospitals in Spain don't allow gas and air but epidurals are available to mothers. Home births are not covered under the state insurance.

 Having a baby in Spain. (2015, July 1). Retrieved November 1, 2015, from http://www.expatica.com/es/healthcare/maternity/Having-a-baby-in-Spain_102276.html