Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is not only an essential part of the initial bonding process of a newborn and its mother, it is important for developing an newborn's immune system.  Unfortunately, due to a variety of reasons, some mothers are not able to breastfeed. 

As a new mother, I was very nervous about the whole breastfeeding situation.  Luckily, it was not as scary as I initially thought.  My first son, took to breast feeding immediately.  At the time, I was going back to school and in the Army Reserves, so I was able to pump and freeze my breast milk, so we that we did not have to supplement with any formula.  I nursed Zack until he was 9 months old and ready to start cereal.  

My second son was a little more challenging.  He only nursed for the first 4 months.  He'd nurse, but it didn't see like he was getting enough during his feedings, so we had to supplement with formula and cereal earlier than planned.  

"Human milk provides virtually all the protein, sugar, and fat your baby needs to be healthy, and it also contains many substances that benefit your baby’s immune system, including antibodies, immune factors, enzymes, and white blood cells" (Healthy Children, n.d.).  My son's benefited from breastfeeding.  Both had strong immune systems and rarely were sick.  I think Zack might have had one ear infection, but other than that he stayed healthy his first years.

I was saddened to read an USA Today article that shared that approximately 25% of American moms breastfeed during the first six months.  However, "Only 23 countries report exclusive breastfeeding rates at 6-months above 60%: Bolivia, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Eritrea, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Micronesia, Federated States of Nauru, Nepal, Peru, Rwanda, São Tome and Principe, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Timor-Leste, Uganda, Vanuatu and Zambia" (May, 2017).  

References:

Breastfeeding Benefits Your Baby's Immunse System. (n.d.)  Retrieved May 19 2018 

from https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/breastfeeding/Pages/Breastfeeding-Benefits-Your-Babys-Immune-System.aspx 

May, Ashely. (2017).  Breastfeeding: Not a single country in the world meets WHO, UN ICEF standards.  Retrieved May 19, 2018 from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/08/01/breastfeeding-not-single-country-world-meets-who-unicef-standards/528449001/

Childbirth In My Life and Around the World

I have two sons who are seven years apart.  Even though they have the same mother and father, they are different in many ways.  Their births were similar but different.  They were both full term babies and born in the same hospital.  Both were delivered vaginally by a doctor and crew of nurses in a private maternity room.  My oldest came on his due date ten hours after being admitted to the hospital. He was a sweet and quiet little baby.  My second came a week before his due date and was delivered about four hours after being admitted into the hospital.  He was not as sweet and quiet as his big brother.  The picture above was taken when the nurse had to give him to me to help calm him.  He was too upset to even allow the nurses to take his initial vitals.  As soon as he was placed in my arms, Jacob calmed down and relaxed.  After a few minutes of being with me, the nurse was able to take him back to get his measurements and vitals.  With both boys, I stayed in the hospital for a full 24 hours before being released to go home.

In the Netherlands, most expectant mothers do not see an obstetrician but are referred to a local midwife.  All explanation mothers are required to receive a kraampakket, which is a home birth kit.  Unlike the United States that requires new mothers to remain in the hospital for at least twenty-four hours, if a mother does not have any complications during birth, she and the baby may be released to go home two hours after the birth.  Follow-up visits by a nurse may occur for up to a week after the birth to provide medical care and basic parenting skills training.



Reference:

Schalken, L. (2017, December 06). Birth Customs Around the World. Retrieved from
http://www.parents.com/pregnancy/giving-birth/vaginal/birth-customs-around-the-world