Natural Disasters- My Sister's Childhood Fears of Earthquakes

     After reviewing the stresses that were offered for this week’s Blog assignment I immediately focused on one that stood out for me in my experiences with my younger sister, and that was earthquakes.  Ever since I can remember my young sister has always been and even still is today, afraid of earthquakes.  And when I say afraid that’s saying it mildly, as a child she was actually deathly afraid of earthquakes, she would go into panic mode even at the slightest rumble or shake.  And once she got so excited then she would also become very panic,and then it was very difficult to calm her down.  You would think that a person who has lived her whole life in California, she would be use to earthquakes by now.  But yet her fear of earthquakes was always a big source of stress for my sister, and even today as an adult she still has that fear of earthquakes.   Of course it's not as extreme as it was when she was a little girl, but yet she will become panic at the slightest rumble.  In reflecting on my experiences with my sister as a young girl, I started to think about other children in other countries where they have had to deal with earthquakes of great magnitude and the devastation's that can follow as a result.

Earthquakes in China:

     I still remember the Earthquake in China back in 2008, and the serious devastation's that it created for all the people, including the children.  "On the afternoon of May 12, 2008, a 7.9-magnitude earthquake hit Sichuan Province, a mountainous region in Western China, killing about 70,000 people and leaving over 18,000 missing. Over 15 million people lived in the affected area, including almost 4 million in the city of Chengdu".  I think the reason I also remembered that earthquake of 2008 so clearly is because at the time my In-laws were traveling on vacation and they were in China at the time of the earthquake.  We were so scared back here at home, But thankfully at the time the earthquake hit China they were not close by, so they were safe.  But I remember how both me and my husband were feeling at the time, not knowing if they were safe, how helpless we felt.  I could only imagine how frightened all the people of China were, as well as their families that were here in the U.S.  At the time I also recalled my sister's fear of earthquakes when she was young, so I could imagine how terrified the children of China must have been right at that minute.  I also thought about how many of them might have been trapped, or worse have already lost their lives.  "The Chinese government has refused to release the number of students who died or their names. But one official report soon after the earthquake estimated that up to 10,000 students died in the collapse of 7,000 classrooms and dormitory rooms". 
     In conclusion after everything had occurred in China, I than thought about how do people, especially young children deal with the stress as well as recover from such a devastation  And I suppose the only way to accomplish this is to just move on no matter how difficult that might be, as well as to try hard to learn what you can from this kind of disaster in the event that it would ever happen again.


Dealing with Earthquake Fear

Objective:
- Students will recognize and articulate their fears about
earthquakes.
- Students will learn earthquake facts and myths, and see what
things can happen during an earthquake.
- Students will formulate earthquake plans and decide how to deal
with their fears.
Procedure:
1. Begin a discussion about earthquakes.
2. Have students write down some of their fears about earthquakes.
3. Compile a list of the most common fears and hand out a copy of the
list to the class.
4. Have the students do on-line research about each fear. They should
try and find out:
      1. If the fearful thing or event can actually happen during a
          quake.
      2. Ways to help calm that fear and increase safety
5. Once the students have handed in their research open up another
discussion about earthquakes and see if they are less fearful.  What fears do they still have? Are these fears irrational or justified?  Are these fears irrational or justified?
6. Discuss earthquake safety and make an earthquake plan.



Reference:
http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/news/science/topics/earthquakes/sichuan_province_china/index.html

Resources:
USGS Earthquakes for Kids & Grown-ups!
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/4kids/
SCEC Electronic Encyclopedia of Earthquakes
http://www.earthquake.info/
Earthquake Myths
http://www.scec.org/education/public/allmyths.html#codes
FEMA: Earthquakes for Kids
http://www.fema.gov/kids/quake.htm
Earthquake Preparedness
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/hazards/prepare.html

Breastfeeding A Personal Choice

I chose breastfeeding as my topic because it has always been a somewhat controversial subject for myself personally.  Even though I completely agree with all the apparent benefits in regards to breastfeeding,  I also believe it is a personal choice, and no one should ever feel pressured by anyone just because they choose not to breastfeed their children.  For me personally I chose not to breastfeed either one of my children, and I don't feel like I lost any bonding time with them because I chose not to breastfeed.  And beside the apparent health benefits I think the main argument for breastfeeding is because of the bonding element, and I would never take that away from any mother, But I still feel I was also able to bond with my son and my daughter just as well as any women who did choose to breastfeed.  And after my first child was born, my son who was premature, I was told by one nurse in particular that I should feel guilty because I didn't want to nurse him,  Especially because he was premature.  She then proceeded to lecture me all the benefits of breastfeeding, and how if I don't nurse him then my son will get sick a lot more than babies who are breastfeed.  Of course needless to say I did put her in her place, and tell her that this is a personal preference, and I really resent anyone telling me I was being self fish or should feel guilty because I didn't want to do something I wasn't comfortable doing in the first place.  To which she immediately began to change her attitude and  apologized, simply stating she was considering what was best for my son's health and overall well-being.  Just at this point one of the other nurses who I had a discussion with in regards to this very subject just the day before, walked in and joined in on our conversation.  She reassured me that I would bond with my baby just fine whether or not I choose to breastfeed him, and contrary to popular belief breastfeed babies do still get sick just as much, or in some cases even more than bottle fed babies.  Whether that was actually true or not, or if she really did believe that, the most important thing was that she was sensitive to my feelings.   And as a new mother for the first time needless to say I was worried, apprehensive, and even a little scared, because after all I did just give birth to a premature baby.  So I think one important thing to remember is that breastfeeding might not always be a choice for some women in other countries,  But it is here in the U.S, and no woman or mother should never feel pressured or guilty or even some what less of a good mother just because breastfeeding is not one option we choose for our child or children.  "Some women choose to bottle feed for a variety of reasons, and many of them report they're made to feel guilty about it.  The "guilt" issue is one that lactation advocates know well.  "Guilt has been the excuse for not talking about breastfeeding for years", Lawerence says.  "The obstetrician would say, "I don't want to talk to mothers about breastfeeding because I don't want them to feel guilty".  But every woman deserves to make an informed decision and she can't do that unless she knows the facts.  If she should choose formula feeding for whatever reason she may have, then that is her informed decision".

Reference:   Zuniga, Marielena.  The Breastfeeding Battle  Retrieved from:
http://www.soroptimist.org/articles/article_breastfeeding.html

Breast is Best

"For most newborns, good nutrition starts with mother's milk.  Colostrum, a thick, high-calorie fluid, is secreted by a woman's breasts for about the first three days following the birth of her child.  After that, the breasts begin to produce milk, the ideal infant food (see Table 5..4) . Compared with cow's milk, human milk is sterile, at body temperature, with iron, vitamins, and other nutrients for brain and body".

Reference:   

Berger, K. S. (2009). The developing person through childhood (5th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.

Benefits of breastfeeding – For baby

Right mixture: Breast milk has the exact combination of fats, protein, vitamins, minerals and enzymes required at various stages of growth of the new born. Breast milk has properties to enhance nervous system development too. Breast milk is easily digestible. 
Immunity: Breast milk increases a child’s resistance to infections. Macrophages that occupy 80% of the cells in breast milk kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Hence, babies who are breast-fed have fewer ear infections, respiratory illness, allergies, diarrhea and gastrointestinal infections.
Perfect infant nutrition: Breast milk enhances the nervous system development and increases IQ, 8 points higher compared to babies who were not breast-fed.
Reduced instance of SIDS: The risks of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) in breastfed babies are reduced.
Meets demands of growth: Breast milk is constantly changing in its composition to meet the changing needs of the growing baby.
Better dental health: Breast-fed children have better overall dental health (due to unique sucking action required while breastfeeding).
Reduces risks of breast cancer: Breast-fed adult daughters are at lower risk of developing breast cancers.
Protection against Intestinal disorder: Breast-feeding helps babies avoid developing chrohn’s disease later in life.

Breastfeeding benefits – For mother

• Breastfeeding is an emotionally rewarding and relaxing experience to mother and baby. 

• Women who breastfeed have lower incidence of breast cancer.

• A perfect natural way to bond intimately with the newborn. 

• Mothers tend to lose the extra pounds gained during pregnancy as nursing uses up extra calories.

• The uterus contracts back to its original size after having been stretched during pregnancy. 

• It delays return of monthly periods.

Reference:  Retrieved from:  TargetWoman - Portal for Women Benefits from Breastfeeding
 http://www.targetwoman.com/articles/benefits-breastfeeding.html

Breastfeeding in Japan: 

After some research I discovered some interesting facts in regards to breastfeeding in Japan.  It seems that traditionally women gave birth at home were encouraged to immediately breastfeed their babies, and start by using the method of breast massage.  It is believed that breast massaging can help with the production of the mother's milk.  "Massaging your breasts will clear the milk ducts and get the milk flowing more freely which will help empty the breasts and therefore trigger higher milk production".  I also discovered that Japan was one of the first developed countries to establish a hospital that was geared toward expecting mothers,  "Traditionally, Japanese women gave birth at home and breastfed with the help of breast message. Weaning was often late, with breastfeeding in rare cases continuing until early adolescence. After World War II Western medicine was taken to Japan and the women began giving birth in hospitals, where the baby was usually taken to the nursery and fed formula. In 1974 a new breastfeeding promotional campaign by the government helped to boost the awareness of its benefits and its prevalence has sharply increased. Japan became the first developed country to have a baby-friendly hospital and as of 2006 has another 24 such facilities".



References:  Retrieved from:

http://www.breastfeeding-problems.com/breast-massage.html

 http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/breastfeeding/history-of-breastfeeding.html

Childbirth-In Your Life and Around the World

My Personal Birth Experiences:

In reflecting on my first birth and pregnancy with my son, It was a completely different experience than the birth of my daughter just four years ago.  Up until my seven and half month with my son I had no problems or difficulties until I suddenly started to go into labor for no apparent reason.  I've been reflecting a lot on his birth recently especially since we've been discussing birth complications and premature births.  The night of October 3rd 2000 when I went to emergency with lower abdominal and leg cramps they admitted me, monitored me very several hrs. and then eventually released me later that evening.  I was told that it appeared that I had a bladder infection and the pain I was experiencing was not labor, but instead was the bladder infection that was actually irritating my uterus causing pain similar to contractions, But not actually real labor contractions.  I was sent home with antibiotics, and told that should help the infection and the pain would eventually stop.  But after enduring hrs. and hrs. of pain I finally woke up my mother after 6 a.m., who I had been staying with since my husband was working out of town at the time.  I told her something was definitely not right and the pain was only getting worse and she better hurry and take me back to the emergency room.  By the time I returned back to the same hospital, admitted and taken to the same room I had been the night before,  I was almost 10 centimeters and there was no time to stop the labor.  So on October 4th 2000 my son was born 6 1/2 weeks early and weighing at 3.8 ounces.  So needless to say I was very grateful to be in the hospital when my son was born, But at the same time I wondered why they didn't know I was in labor to became with, and why was I released in the first place.  But I guess even the doctors and medical professionals in the field don't always have all the answers.  But as I stated in my discussion for this week I was very grateful that modern technology and medical science is what it is today especially in regards to premature infants, or I might not have my precious son today.  But despite coming early, and being very small he was very fortunate after staying 3 1/2 weeks in the NIC Unit he had no complications what so ever.  And if you were to look at him today at eleven years old he is healthy and happy and thriving in sports and in middle school you would never have been able to tell that he was that tiny little premature baby boy born on October 4th 2000.



Births In Ghana:

In reflecting on this weeks chapter four, Prenatal  Development and birth, I became very interested after reading about births in Developing Nations specifically births in Ghana.  So I went on the Internet and did a little research on this County as well as on the births in Ghana.  As the text sited almost all the births in Ghana took place at home by Midwife's as compared to the United States where only 1 percent of births take place at home.  But after researching this county more what really shocked me was the alarming number of deaths that take place either for the mothers or the infants as a result of childbirth.  And it seems that almost all of those deaths could have been prevented either from medical attention by a doctor in a hospital or simply medical information and knowledge to the pregnant mothers of Ghana.  This also made me reflect on my own experience with my son, as well as the birth of my daughter.  Since I was already considered a high risk pregnancy with my daughter because of my son my doctor took precautions so I would not go into premature labor.  At five months of pregnancy I began to take shots once a week that were suppose to prevent early labor, and I was monitored closely and more frequently than I was seven years prior with my son.  Even though modern science and technology being what it is today I guess they still don't have all the answers, Especially when it comes to what exactly is the cause of early premature labor.   And imagine my surprise when after two months of receiving my weekly shots I began to go into labor again early.  The difference this time though was that since I already had a history and considered a high risk pregnancy, I was immediately admitted into the hospital and given medication to stop the labor and the contractions.  I went through this for the next month and a half when finally the doctors said that the  medicine wasn't working anymore and this baby wants to come so this time I delivered my daughter at 3 1/2 weeks early and she was exactly 6 pounds, Which was a lot better then 6 1/2 weeks premature.  And like my son my beautiful daughter had no problems except for being a little jaundice, and we were both out of the hospital in three days.  So for me I would definitely have to say that in comparing my two personal birth experiences with those of the women in Ghana I definitely think they could take a lot more steps of preventative actions so that these unfortunate fatalities don't occur for the women and the unborn babies in Ghana.

Welcome to my Blog

Hello Everyone. Here is my Blog. My name is Sylvia I'm from Beaumont Calif. Where I live with my wonderful family, My husband and our two children ages 11yrs. old, and 4yrs.old. I'm currently a Teacher III/ Site Supervisor working for San Bernardino County Pre-school Services, Head-start. I'm very excited to start school again after ten years. I'm also equally excited to embark on on-line education through Walden University.