Breastfeeding and Its Impact of Child Development

Breastfeeding is a choice that mothers get to make. I personally did not breastfeed my daughter, even though I knew it had better outcomes for her health. I have always regrets about not breastfeeding my own child.  Breast milk has all the nutrients needed for an infant to develop and be able to fight diseases.I chose this topic because it has been an ongoing conversation in the United States for a long time. 

A few facts learned was, in 2016 Norway had the highest percentage of 99% of mothers who were breastfeeding. Irish women were the lowest percentage which was 50% In France, breastfeeding for a long time is frowned upon. United States is more open and more sensitive the norm of breastfeeding but in France they are not as open to the idea especially in public. In poor countries breast feeding is the only option for some mothers and babies. They don't have access to formula or clean water so breastfeeding is the only way of life for them. There are factors that keep moms from breastfeeding, such as, lack of supplies, working mothers, lack of support, poor lactate, post par-tum depression. 

There are positive effects of breastfeeding and brain development. I have read so many good things about breastfeeding and its positive effects on infant development. After researching this topic, I believe it is great to breastfeed but its not the only way to have a healthy and smart child.

This will broaden my thoughts as to why some moms chose not breastfeed. For my future work with infants and toddlers I will be curious to see the brain development of a breast fed child vs a formula fed child. 

www.europeanmama.com/breastfeeding-around-the-world/

BIRTH Experience

After 9 months and 3 days of heartburn, uncomfortable sleep, and having no control over my body, it was time to have a baby!!!! On March 27, 2010 I was checked into a hospital to be induced because my water never broke on its own. This was all new to me so I was scared, nervous, excited, exhausted,  and did I say SCARED!!! I was given the medicine to start my labor and it went downhill from there. The medicine made me very sick and my daughter's heart rate kept dropping. I couldn't take the pain so I requested an epidural. Other than the fact that it was a GIANT needle in my spine, it was the perfect drug because I didn't feel a thing after that. I was surrounded my mom, sister, and husband when the doctor came in an told me that I was going to have an emergency C-section...YIKES!!! This was not what I wanted. Eventually her heart rate was steady and I did not have to have a c-section. At last, around 7pm, it was time to push! My doctor and the nurses coached me while my husband let me squeeze the life out of his hand. At 7: 14 I heard my baby girl cry and I was relieved and exhausted.
   I did not want to be induced or have an epidural  because I read so much research about babies being "drugged up" as they enter this world. In those moments things change, but I don't regret a thing. My daughter was a healthy 7lb load of cuteness. I chose my personal birth experience because I knew every detail. Also it was life changing for me.
 Every birth experience is different from mother to mother. I think the experience itself could only affect development if there are mental and physical challenges. Mentally mothers can have Post-partum depression and that will affect child development because mom isn't  who she needs to be during those critical first months.